By Henry Chulu:
The life of legendary musician Mtembeti Wambali Mkandawire was celebrated on Saturday during the unveiling ceremony of his tombstone in Lilongwe.
People from all walks of life including family, friends and fellow artists attended the ceremony, which started with a church service at International Christian Assembly before the unveiling of the tombstone at Area 18 Cemetery.
The music icon’s widow Wambui described her husband as a great man who treasured music and that his legacy will live on.
Wambali’s daughter Taonga described the unveiling of her father’s tombstone as an important day and that it was part of honouring and celebrating his life.
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“When he passed on, things happened so fast but today, as we unveil his tombstone, we celebrate his life. We are thankful to people for coming to be with us and their presence is testimony of who he was to them and what he meant to the country,” she said.
Wambali’s manager Vitumbiko Mumba said the day was all about reflecting on the music icon’s life, values and what he advocated for.
He then thanked President Lazarus Chakwera for his contribution towards the ceremony.
Saxophonist Dan Sibale, who starred with the legendary musician and was part of Manyasa Band which worked with the music icon, said Wambali was a great musician and that his legacy will live on.
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Sibale then announced that Manyasa has regrouped in order to continue from where Wambali left off and that they would soon go on a tour.
“We want to keep Wambali’s name alive and, so, Manyasa is back and, apart from performances, we are looking at releasing an album,” he said.
Manyasa with Wambali recorded an album titled Up and Down the Shire.
The unveiling of Wambali’s tombstone comes barely a month after former vice president of Zambia Nevers Mumba laid a wreath at his resting place.
Wambali succumbed to Covid in January 2021.
Born Glyn Mkandawire in Congo on July 10 1952, Wambali released a number of albums and they include Zani Muwone, Calabrash Breath, Moto and Tizamtamanda.
He came from Mlowe Village, Traditional Authority Mwamlowe, in Rumphi District.
In 2002, Wambali raised the country’s profile on the world stage when he was decorated with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (Wipo) Award for Creativity.
He was nominated for the Kora Award in the Best Artiste from Southern Africa category for his work ‘Zani Muwone’ and, in 2003, he won the South Africa Music Awards for Best African Artiste.
