Malawi has lost one of its greatest musicians, Mtebeti Wambali Mkandawire, who has died in the early hours of Sunday January 31, 2021due to Covid-19.
According to close family relations, Wambali was admitted at Kamuzu Central Hospital last week after he was diagonised of the disease as he was having problems with breathing. In a brief interview, Reverend Chimwemwe Mhango said Wambali’s body will be laid to rest at Area 18 cemetery in Lilongwe today.
“It is devastating. Yesterday I spoke to his daughter and she said he was stabilising. We thought everything was okay only to wake up to a message that he is no more,” said Mhango.
Several people have already started posting their tributes for the fallen music genius. His one-time local manager Peter Mazunda has posted on his Facebook page: “Go thee well Wambali. Thanks for the lessons and opportunities you created for me. I have come this far because you led me senior.”
Though he rose to fame as a musician, Wambali was also known for his activism role that he played, an element which was also prominent in most of his compositions. He was among the key figures that participated in last year’s decisive public political demonstrations bordering on the disputed 2019 presidential elections.
Wambali was born on 10th July in 1952 and hailed from Mlowe village traditional authority Mwamulowe in Rumphi though he settled in Mzuzu where he had a farm. Wambali is survived by a daughter Tawonga and a wife, Wambuyi who is originally from Kenya.
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