Malawian actor Henry Ntalika dead: National theatre vice president
The Malawian theatre industry has yet again been hit by another death of a senior and talented actor, Henry Ntalika, who died Wednesday night.
Ntalika, who until his death was vice president of the National Theatre Association of Malawi (NTAM), passed away at Chiradzulu District Hospital where he was admitted last week Tuesday after a short-time battle with meningitis.
His death comes barely a few months after the local arts industry lost another renowned actor, Augustine Mauwa, one of the founders of the popular Kwathu Drama Group and also an admired figure on ADRA’s Tikuferanji radio and television series.
No further details had been released yet by family members, at the time of posting this article, regarding the late Ntalika and the burial arrangements but he is survived by a wife and children.
The deceased, who worked as a teacher before retiring some two years ago to focus on his theatre career, was one of the established actors for Mbali Yanga radio play aired on MBC Radio.
Just last month, Ntalika featured in Nanzikambe Arts Theatre’s President’s Prerogative, a political play drawn against the deteriorating living conditions in Malawi which was written and devised by University of Malawi’s Chancellor College theatre lecturer and renowned dramatist, Smith Likongwe.
His death has shocked the drama fraternity with many describing it as another great loss to the Malawian booming entertainment industry.
Fellow artists have also described him as someone who dedicated his time and energy to developing theatre in Malawi as well as raising the national theatre association’s flag.
NTAM President Ian Chitsekula told Nyasa Times, the association and the theatre fraternity in Malawi was saddened with Ntalika’s sudden death.
“Malawi has lost yet another talented actor, the association and the theatre fraternity in Malawi will greatly miss him,” said Chitsekula.
“I visited him last Sunday and we chatted. I thought there was hope that he would be alright.”
Chitsekula said he would remember the late Ntalika for his efforts in ensuring that NTAM became a registered entity.
“All along NTAM was never registered but it was him who has worked hard and put in a lot of personal efforts to have it registered. As my deputy, we worked along very perfectly, our working relationship was firm that in the last play which we acted together [Presidential Prerogative] I played the chief and he was my advisor,” mourned the Lilongwe based Chitsekula.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
