Actor-cum-musician Chris Mbendera, who died on Wednesday, will be buried today at his home village Mlambala in Traditional Authority Bvumbwe in Thyolo District.
According to a close family friend Arthur Galanzi, Mbendera died at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre where he was being treated for cancer.
| Mbendera family
“He was diagonised with the condition over a year ago and he was undergoing treatment since then. It was only a few days ago when his condition deteriorated,” he said.
Mbendera became a music household name in music in the early 2000s following the release of his popular song Nsima Ya Utaka.
Before his break into the music landscape, he was a known actor having starred in Wakhumbata Ensemble Theatre’s (WET) production Kabuha Tragedy.
His former colleague at WET, Jeremiah Mwaungulu, described Mbendera as a passionate actor and dedicated professional.
He said: “Chris travelled all the way from Lilongwe to Blantyre for an audition. He was given the role after impressing Du Chisiza Jnr. Kabuha Tragedy is the only production which toured the whole country.
“Chris was passionate about theatre. He did not just dream about it, he acted it. He was not just talented, he was hungry.”
Musician Union of Malawi president Vita Chirwa said as a fraternity they are saddened by the passing of the musician.
“His contribution to Malawi’s music heritage will forever be cherished and his music will continue to echo through generations. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Though his voice has fallen silent, his legacy and music will live on,” he said.
Apart from his association with arts, Mbendera twice contested for a member of Parliament in Mangochi South first in 2019 and in 2025 ,but did not make it.
