Mibawa’s Donia laid to rest
For many, the name Donia Khuma Phiri might not ring a bell as she was a newly recruited vocalist of Mibawa Band and sadly died in a car accident over the weekend.
However, mourners from all walks of life on Monday gathered in Area 22 in Lilongwe to witness Donia’s last mile.
The celebrated but regrettably short life of the young and talented singer was curtailed by a car accident on Saturday, 28 September in Mwanza as the band was en route to Mozambique where they were expected to perform in a number of shows.
The 19-year-old musician was the only one who died from the accident which has also left some of her former band-mates seriously injured, with Mibawa technical officer Jackson Kamulanje currently admitted to Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre.
According to a member of the family who spoke at the funeral, the deceased was born on 26th November in 1993. Apart from her music career, she was also a journalism student at the Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ) where she also underlined her credentials as an exceptional producer in radio production.
Donia has been with Mibawa Band for only one month, but during her short stint with the band, she left a mark because of her rare vocal abilities.
A representative of Central Region female musicians, Helen Daka Maulidi, who also spoke at the funeral, said her death is a big blow to the music industry and to women musicians in particular.
The body of Donia Khuma Phiri was buried at Biwi cemetery near Lilongwe Girls Secondary School in Lilongwe.
Meanwhile, Mibawa Band manager John Nthakomwa said Kamulanje is now out of the ICU and vocalist Eunice Kadzuwa-Mhango was discharged.
“He is improving greatly and he is responding to treatment. After some tests, the doctors have proved that Eunice and her unborn baby are well,” he said.
