Mafunyeta to be buried today

Hundreds of Lilongwe residents, on Tuesday bade farewell to local dancehall king Mafunyeta before his body was taken to his home in Mwanza for burial.

Born Patrick Magalasi, Mafunyeta died suddenly on Sunday night after an asthma attack.

According to a family member, Mafunyeta died shortly after returning from Mwanza where he had gone to bury his young sister, Mphatso, who also died of the same disease.

“He was pronounced dead minutes after 10 pm at Area 18 Health Centre on Sunday. We had returned from Mwanza where were burying our sister Mphatso who was also asthmatic and died on Friday.

“He was dropped home at 18, but suddenly he started having breathing difficulties due to an asthma attack. Unfortunately, he had run short of inhaler and so was rushed to the clinic where he was pronounced dead on arrival,” said his elder brother, Ronald Chisesa, in an interview.

He said tentatively, Mafunyeta will be buried on Tuesday in his home Chiwembu Village, Traditional Authority Nthache in Mwanza.

“We should be taking his remains to Mwanza today and the tentative plan is to lay him to rest on Tuesday. Unless there is a change because all our parents remained in Mwanza, it was only us who came to Lilongwe. It’s too bad we have lost him,” explained Chisesa.

Born in 1988, Mafunyeta, who rose to the music scen

e about four years ago, had his own blend of dancehall that quickly captured listeners and ushered him to the top of the music charts with hits such asKangobwera and Ndimakondwa.

Having grown up using desks and tins as instruments and influenced by the late Evison Matafale and Rich Spice, Mafunyeta gained his ground as a musician by winning talent competitions.

Meanwhile, tributes pour in with many artists describing him as a rare gem.

“It is so sad we performed together last week at [Lilongwe] Golf Club and it never occurred to me that will be the last I am seeing Mafunyeta,” mourned musician Annie Matumbi, who said the artist was unique in his style.