Tears for Sweeney Chimkango

The music fraternity is mourning the passing of veteran musician-cum-broadcaster Sweeney Chimkango who succumbed to Covid-19 yesterday morning at Blantyre Adventist Hospital.

Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) director general George Kasakula confirmed the sad news in an interview.

“Sadly, he succumbed to Covid-19. We will miss him,” he said.

Kasakula said the late Chimkango was one of the first employees of the then Television Malawi (TVM) and was always a hard worker and loyal.

“When I first joined MBC two months ago, he welcomed me warmly and was very forthcoming with ideas of how to improve things. We have lost a good man,” he said.

In a separate interview, Musicians Union of Malawi president Gloria Manong’a said the music fraternity is saddened with Chimkango’s death.

“He was one of the gospel musicians who inspired the current generation of musicians. And he had the voice of an angel. His singing soothed souls and comforted broken hearts,” she said.

On his part, Allan Ngumuya, another gospel musician who started singing around the same time as the late Chimkango, said he felt lost with his passing.

“My friend was selfless. He actually wrote a song titled Pamene and gave it to me. It is in my album Tidzikumbukila. I will always remember him as a selfless soul,” he said.

Ngumuya said since they started together as gospel artists from the Seventh Day Adventist family, they were always encouraging and helping each other grow musically.

“Malawi has lost a man of talent, a humble guy who had an outstanding voice,” he said.

In a separate interview, Geoffrey Kapusa, who worked with Chimkango at TVM, said the deceased had many talents that uplifted Malawi music.

“He was instrumental in the shooting and production of Evison Matafale’s music video Watsetseleka. That time we did not have music video production houses,” he said.

Kapusa added that the late Chimkango was also able to produce and present music programmes.

Black Missionaries Band leader Anjiru Fumulani said Chimkango was instrumental in production of music videos in the early days of television.

“I remember he shot and produced Evision Matafale’s first music video titled Watsetseleka. To date it is one of the unique videos. He did it with Bwanali Makote,” he said.

Fumulani said the death of Chimkango is a huge loss to the music industry since he was talented, creative and mature.

Some of the programmes that he used to present were Manna and Cross Rhythms on MBC television. 

The late Chimkango has three albums to his credit, namely Yendanibe, Mfumu Ya Luntha, and Paulendo.

At the time of his death he was the acting controller of programmes (television) at MBC.

Burial will take place today in Makwasa, Thyolo.