Martse to be laid to rest Wednesday
Renowned rapper Martse, real name Martin Nkhata, will be laid to rest Wednesday at Area 18 Cemetery in Lilongwe.
Martse died Monday at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre.
The artist, famed for songs such as ‘Mwano’, succumbed to burn wounds which he sustained when a house he slept in caught fire on Friday.
His brother Jerome was at a loss with Martse’s sudden death.
“Only God knows why it had to happen. We are thankful to God for giving us Martse,” Jerome said at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital Monday before Martse’s remains were taken to Mthunzi Mortuary.
Jerome said the remains of Martse will be taken to Lilongwe today before burial Wednesday.
A number of artists, including Phyzix, Third Eye, Rina, Pemphero Mphande and Willie Soko as well as relatives, were present at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital Monday.
“I am shocked. I am saddened,” Phyzix said.
Third Eye, real name Mandela Mwanza, also said he was shocked with Martse’s death.
“I am trying to put myself together but this really pains. I am at a loss with Martse’s death,” he said.
Several artists and players mourned the award-winning artist Monday on social media with many describing him as a talented rapper who entertained them with his music.
Monkey Bay Police spokesperson Alice Sichali told The Daily Times on Sunday that there were four people inside the house when the house Martse was sleeping in caught.
“There was the owner of the house, his wife, their little child and Martse by the time the house caught fire. What we gathered is that Martse was visiting them and, when the house caught fire, all the other members managed to flee the house using windows but it appears Martse did not manage to find his way, being a visitor,” Sichali said.
Sichali said the police were currently investigating the cause of the fire which completely destroyed all property in the house.
The artist, who among others won the 2015 Urban Music People (UMP) Song of the Year Award for ‘Mwano’, and collaborated with several artists was born on May 18 1994. He hailed from Mzimba District.
He wrote on his Facebook page recently that he had started a campaign to raise funds for primary school desks in the country and a lot of people commended him for the initiative.
“I am tired of complaining about the problems of this country, I will be holding hands with whoever is willing to make a difference and put each of these primary school learners on a desk,” Martse said.
Some of his other songs include ‘Tchwe’, ‘Mkatimo’, ‘Woloka’, ‘Mwapindulanji’, which he adapted from Billy Kaunda’s ‘Mwapindulanji’, ‘Go Deeper’ and ‘Adidas’.
