Ma Blacks keyboardist Thugo dies

Black Missionaries Band keyboardist Gift Thugo has died. He passed on today morning in Mulanje.

Thugo, whose stint with the band dates back to the year 2000 when he was a member of the Wailing Brothers, the band that recorded Evison Matafale’s first album, Kuimba 1, succumbed to pneumonia, according to Black Missionaries leader Anjiru Fumulani.

“His passage is a big loss to us since he contributed a lot to the band. He was talented and we will miss him very much,” said Fumulani.

Wailing Brothers Band manager Chigo Gondwe-Chokani, said Malawi has lost talent. “He was there in the early 1990’s when the Wailing Brothers was formed. He was there when Matafale formed the Black Missionaries Band, and we wish he were here when the Wailing Brothers relaunch Unfinished Project later this month.

“Simply put, he was talented, yet so down-to-earth and humble,” said Chigo.

According to her, Thugo was expected to under-go a medical check-up at Mulanje Mission Hospital on Wednesday.