![Chinga: Tributes pour in]()
Rodger Moffat an ex-husband to gospel diva, Grace Chinga has expressed shock at her sudden death on Wednesday.
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![Chinga: Tributes pour in]()
Chinga: Tributes pour in[/caption]
Grace reportedly had complained of a headache and collapsed at her residence in Blantyre. She was taken to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in the city, but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Moffat, a freelance photographer who was married to Grace for 10 years before a Blantyre Magistrate Court dissolved the marriage in 2007 following matrimonial differences, said he learnt of her death Wednesday night.
He said the demise of his ex-wife and mother of his two children was a great loss to him and his family.
“We heard from Maggie Mangani that she complained of headache and later collapsed. She was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
“We never heard of any illness,” a grief-stricken Moffat said at parliament building in Lilongwe on Thursday morning.
Legendary Afro-jazz saxophonist, Wyndham Chechamba, gospel and circular musicians alike have also expressed shock over the death of gospel songbird, Grace Chinga, describing it as irreparable loss in the industry.
The 82-year-old musician, Chechamba, said death had again robbed the industry and the nation “one of the finest female artists who raised the country's profile.”
Chechamba said he had seen Grace from the start to her epic level and that it was heart-breaking to think of her as late.
“She raised our profile together with the likes of Ethel Kamwendo and many others but it is her total commitment and the passion she put into her music that will never be equaled,” said Chechamba.
He added that as an ageing artist he took pride in the talented upcoming artists and hoped that they would carry the baton and run with it.
Meanwhile, President for Music Association of Malawi, Rev. Chimwemwe Mhango, has said musicians in the country are mourning Grace and he described her demise as painful.
“She is gone but her music will still live,” wrote Rev. Mhango on his Facebook page. “Death is so painful but in Christ we have our strength and hope of meeting again in His glory ... Rev.14:13. To God be the glory. Amen.”
Another veteran musician and producer, Joseph Tembo, described Grace as a one great artist and performer the nation ever had.
“We have lost amazing talent,” responded Tembo via social media. “She was a great composer, song writer stage performer and she had sweet voice. She inspired many young upcoming singers and she was hard working.”
Tembo said as a producer, he enjoyed working on Grace's production in the studio.
Grace was yet to launch her new album
Ndzaulura.
Born on June 28, 1978, Grace is survived by three children.
Burial is on Saturday at Henry Henderson Institute (HHI) in Blantyre.--
Additional reporting by Jabulani Kamngoya, Mana
Chinga: Tributes pour in[/caption]
Grace reportedly had complained of a headache and collapsed at her residence in Blantyre. She was taken to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in the city, but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Moffat, a freelance photographer who was married to Grace for 10 years before a Blantyre Magistrate Court dissolved the marriage in 2007 following matrimonial differences, said he learnt of her death Wednesday night.
He said the demise of his ex-wife and mother of his two children was a great loss to him and his family.
“We heard from Maggie Mangani that she complained of headache and later collapsed. She was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
“We never heard of any illness,” a grief-stricken Moffat said at parliament building in Lilongwe on Thursday morning.
Legendary Afro-jazz saxophonist, Wyndham Chechamba, gospel and circular musicians alike have also expressed shock over the death of gospel songbird, Grace Chinga, describing it as irreparable loss in the industry.
The 82-year-old musician, Chechamba, said death had again robbed the industry and the nation “one of the finest female artists who raised the country's profile.”
Chechamba said he had seen Grace from the start to her epic level and that it was heart-breaking to think of her as late.
“She raised our profile together with the likes of Ethel Kamwendo and many others but it is her total commitment and the passion she put into her music that will never be equaled,” said Chechamba.
He added that as an ageing artist he took pride in the talented upcoming artists and hoped that they would carry the baton and run with it.
Meanwhile, President for Music Association of Malawi, Rev. Chimwemwe Mhango, has said musicians in the country are mourning Grace and he described her demise as painful.
“She is gone but her music will still live,” wrote Rev. Mhango on his Facebook page. “Death is so painful but in Christ we have our strength and hope of meeting again in His glory ... Rev.14:13. To God be the glory. Amen.”
Another veteran musician and producer, Joseph Tembo, described Grace as a one great artist and performer the nation ever had.
“We have lost amazing talent,” responded Tembo via social media. “She was a great composer, song writer stage performer and she had sweet voice. She inspired many young upcoming singers and she was hard working.”
Tembo said as a producer, he enjoyed working on Grace's production in the studio.
Grace was yet to launch her new album Ndzaulura.
Born on June 28, 1978, Grace is survived by three children.
Burial is on Saturday at Henry Henderson Institute (HHI) in Blantyre.-- Additional reporting by Jabulani Kamngoya, Mana