sent by Chrisogonas Odhiambo

Gospel diva killed in crash

By Emmanuel Mwendwa and Anthony Gitonga

Gospel singer, Angela Chibalonza Muliri, is no more. The leading Kenya-based songwriter-cum-singer of Congolese descent died Saturday morning in a car accident at a black spot near Naivasha, along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway.

Chibalonza and two other people she was travelling with — her driver, Kennedy Aluoch and vocalist, Nimrod Makori — died when the car they were travelling in rammed into a lorry at Kinale area, near Kijabe.

Chibalonza was travelling to Nairobi from Nakuru where she had performed on Friday.

Kiambu Officer Commanding Police Division, Mr Ray Munyambo said the car rammed into a lorry at dawn.

He said several other people who were involved in the accident were rushed to Kijabe Mission Hospital.

The bodies were initially moved to the Naivasha sub District Hospital mortuary while the vehicles were towed to Lari Police Station.

Two weeks ago, Chibalonza performed during the national prayer day at Uhuru Park. President Mwai Kibaki graced the occasion.

Overcome by emotions, the musician’s husband remained in one of the vehicles as plans were made to transfer Chibalonza’s body to Lee Funeral Home, Nairobi. Speaking at the mortuary, Bishop Jeremiah Pallangyo appealed to Christians to pray for the family.

Moments after her death, it emerged that the singer probably had a premonition about passing on, mirrored in the title of her latest but yet to be released album. The new CD Nimekutana Na Yesu (I have met Jesus) was scheduled for official launch next Saturday at Nairobi Cinema’s auditorium, with a live concert under banner Furaha ya Kipawa (joy of my talent).

Fliers adorning walls along the City streets and also being distributed at music retail outlets along River Road and its environs, indicate the singer as the headliner act, with curtain raiser performances by gospel singer, Ruth Wamuyu and Bahati Bukubu.

According to Mr Moses Ndeche, an official of the late Chibalonza’s long time distribution label Artpoint Productions, the fate of the widely publicised concert hangs in balance.

The concert was however expected to mark a turning point for the gospel singer, who has risen through ranks to carve her niche on the competitive local gospel music scene.

Credited with seven albums, Nimekutana na Yesu was her eighth CD and first album under own label.

Chibalonza’s illustrious career spans over a decade, during which time she earned popularity, becoming a household name not only locally but across Africa and internationally.

She made her career debut in 1994 after recording her first 12-track album titled Nakuabudu (I Worship You) produced and arranged at River Road’s Studio Sawa Production House.

But it was her second 10-song album Jina La Yesu (The name of Jesus) released in 1995 under same label, which catapulted Chibalonza to fame.

She was married to long time fiancÈe, Mr Elisha Muliri in 2003, the late Chibalonza leaves behind their two adopted children.