Grace Chinga laid to rest: Daughter sings goodbye to her ‘angel’ in tears

Malawi’s renowned gospel artists Grace Chinga  was laid to rest at HHI Cemetery in Blantyre on Saturday, as thousands  gathered at the Robins Park in Blantyre for funeral service and broke barriacades at the cemetery to get near her golden coffin.

Grace's daughter Miracle saying goobye to 'angel' mum-Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Grace’s daughter Miracle saying goobye to ‘angel’ mum-Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Grace's mother bidding farewell -Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Grace’s mother bidding farewell -Photo Jeromy Kadewere
The coffin arriving at HHI Cemetery...Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
The coffin arriving at HHI Cemetery…Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Miracle Chinga on the stage singi ... song...Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Miracle Chinga on the stage singi … song…Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Ethel Kamwendo Banda and Prince Chitsulo singing goodbye to Grace Chinga-Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Ethel Kamwendo Banda and Prince Chitsulo singing goodbye to Grace Chinga-Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Devasted gospel star Rudo Mkukupa Chakwera-Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Devasted gospel star Rudo Mkukupa Chakwera-Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Sombre mood at the funeral..Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Sombre mood at the funeral..Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
The coffin on the centre of Robins Park...Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
The coffin on the centre of Robins Park…Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Saddened singer Skeffa Chimoto at the cemetery...Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Saddened singer Skeffa Chimoto at the cemetery…Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
There was no space inside the hall of Robins Park.-Photo Jeromy Kadewere
There was no space inside the hall of Robins Park.-Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Some mourners in a tree -Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Some mourners in a tree -Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Some of the musicians who paid their last respects-.Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Some of the musicians who paid their last respects-.Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Grace's daughter in tears on the stage...Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Grace’s daughter in tears on the stage…Photo Jeromy Kadewere

Chinga one of the country biggest gospel musician  was pronounced dead upon arrival at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyreafter complaining of headache last Thursday.

The thousands of people braved the heat weather inside Robins Park   to pay their last respects. While in excess of 20 000 people packed Robins Park, several thousand more lined the streets of Blantyre along the route to his final resting place in HHI cemetery.

From early in the morning mourners began converging at Robins Park in a colorful assortment of clothes and the usual black regalia.

Several had driven from all the corners of Blantyre townships   to attend the service including minister of sports Grace Chiumia and First Deputy Speaker Mcheka Chelenje.

There were also thousands of mourners outside the Robins Park, who carried Grace’s posters.

Grace’s casket arrived at Robins Park in a black hearse.

The heat inside Robins Park failed to dampen the crowd’s resolve to pay their respects. An announcement over the loudspeaker system said that over 25 000 people had parked the magnificent hall.

Tears rolled when Grace’s daughter Miracle took the stage to sing two songs for her mother.

There were emotions, as the daughter sung the two songs deep down from her heart and the same like what her mother used to.

Then it was time for speeches.

After speeches, only family members and other senior delegates were allowed to view the body, as it was difficult to accommodate thousands that came to do the same because of time.

After Robins park, thousands of mourners stand on a ramp and watch a long convoy leave the hall. Some walked from Robins to HHI while chanting Grace’s name, “Akalowe ku Paradiso akalowe.”

As the convoy made its way out of the city along the Makata Road people could be seen with their cell phones taking pictures or bowing their heads in respect of the late Grace.

As the coffin descended at the cemetery, mourners chanted her famous Thandizo Langa song.

Grace daughter Miracle comforted by Mcheka Chilenje wept,    and appeared to be speaking to her mother’s coffin   as she threw a flower into the grave.

As relatives approached the grave, they too began to weep. Gospel musicians, led by Ethel Kamwendo Banda, placed flowers in the grave. Thoko Katimba stood at the grave with a bowed head.

However, Chaos erupted at the cemetery as marshals, ultimately lost their battle against a human tide of about 25 000 trying to force its way through the barricades in front of the coffin.

The master of ceremonies called for fans at the back to stop pushing those in front of them. As marshals helped children and the elderly over the barricades, the master of ceremony shouted: “You are going to create chaos. You are going to kill little children here. No pushing.”

But his calls for calm were drowned by the screams of women as the crowd broke through and when an elderly woman lay down injured near Grace’s  grave, somebody  yelled: “We want medics urgently, medics, medics!”

It was even difficult for photo journalists to take pictures, as the grave yard was surrounded by thousands of people with others using their phones trying to take pictures

Proudly labeled as Malawi’s Rebecca Malope, Chinga shot in the limelight in 1998 with the first album, Uleke, of the defunct All Angels Choir.

Her first album which earned her awards  had the popular song, Thandizo Langa.

Chinga was hit by divorce  -with husband top photographer Rodger Moffart – which turned to be
among the most publicized marriage dissolution cases in Malawi.

But Grace two years later in 2010, released probably her best ever album, Udzayimba Nyimbo.

Born on June 25, 1978, Chinga, is survived by three children; two boys and a girl.

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103 replies on “Grace Chinga laid to rest: Daughter sings goodbye to her ‘angel’ in tears”

  1. Mama,,,,till we meet in God’s glory! But i tend to wonder coz comfirmation from the doctor sindinaimve, tamvadi kuti anadwala mutu kma adoctor anati chan? poyamba tinkamva kut ma resuts sanabwere kma mpaka maliro kuikidwa osamva ma resuts from the doctor, those who hv got imformation from the doctor plz share wth me. Grace wapita ngat bodza ndidzaiwala bwanji?????????

  2. REST IN PEACE MAMA..mulungu yekha,anve pempero ndikulira kulira kwa malawi kulikonse ali..AMBUYE DALITSANI MIRACLE ndikugaila luso lamai ake..AMEN

  3. zomvetsa chisoni zedi. Kalandile korona wko Grace. May those that had a hand in your death be exposed. we hear so many stories. May your soul rest in peace.

  4. its heart breaking abale but Good God knows may he let his living waters to flow over grace’s family, I know its more than they can take

  5. shame to those who thing they can kill the great gift in her life,,,,,,,may God bless miracle so that one day, she can become as great as her mother,, may her gentle soul rest in eternal peace

  6. MmmmmmmH , abale! Death is Death, there is no heaven. She is dead , like every living thing, it dies and then rots. That’s the end, no souls there. please its better to tell the truth than a lie, even its comforting!!!

  7. God of Nazarette have mercy on all of us as Grace Chinga shall live for ever in our hearts. Touch the beleaved family of Grace and all the funs! Ambuye inu mukudziwa zonse why she left so early. May her soul rest in peace!

  8. Grace, may your soul rest in peace.ur talent of singing gospel songs was really great, more especially the song of : mundisungire kolona .

  9. The Lord of comfort, confort the Chinga’s family, relatives and Friends , may the soul of Grace Rest in Peace in Jesus name!

  10. RIP Grace. God will comfort your mother, children and the Church.

    Will meet when our Lord Jesus comes.

    Charles.

  11. Rest in eternal peace Grace will miss Ur touching songs mama n Ur live performance on stage.Ambuye akulandileni mama illl really miss ur song” ndiululireni”!!!! RIP

  12. Mzovetsachisoni Kuti Grace Wachokapakatipathumokhumudwitsakwambiri, Grace! Ambuye Mulunguakulandilekumwambako.Sindidzaiwalanyimbozako, Makamakayoti: Anandigulandimwaziwa Yesu. R I P

  13. I am one of those who really loved your songs Grace, ngati ndi munthu wachita izi Mulungu amuone koma ngati ndi chifuniro chanu Ambuye ndingoti ”Chauta anapatsa Chauta walanda lilemekezeke dzina lake”

    RIP Sister G.

  14. rip g chinga cz u was best to shere a message through out the songs dont warry allah was watch every thing wht u was done in this world sallam alykhm

  15. Very sad moment for gospel song lovers like me. Rest well Grace. I hope your daughter will continue your legacy.

  16. Zandiwawa kwambiri Grace rest in peace. Yahweh do what is right always, and he is the one who knows what has caused your death.

  17. rest in peace sister it will take time for us all to forget nice projects in gospel music industry.

  18. Ndakhumudwa kwambiri…..This is devastating but GOD knows better than we do.Rest in peace Grace.

  19. Funso; kodi family ya Chinga kulibe? Dzikutheka bwanji a Deputy Speaker and A minister kukhala anthu ogwira Mai ndi mwana wa Malemu respectively. Dzawakhudzira pati? Nchibale? Olo pakhomo pa Grace anabwerapo nkumwapo tea? These are moments you wants those close to you to comfort you. Osati opportunists. Zinazi tidziganiza!

  20. watisiya amasiye Grace… ntchito yotumikila ambuye mwayigwira, kwasala ife osala. mukalowe mu paradiso mama.

  21. One bright morning when this life is over, I will fly away. There I shall meet you Grace in the glory of the Lord. I miss you!

  22. May her soul rest in peace. She was consistent in gospel music. I will miss you Grace. Goodbye dear.

  23. Grace Rest in Eternal Peace. Mwaukangamila mtanda as per u song. Kwa ife poti tinapulumuka mwachisomo tayalura mphasa zathu ndipo tidzayimba nyimbo mama ndipo Yehova mwayenera ulemu chifukwa choti munatipatsa Grace ngakhale kwakanthawi kochepa.

  24. GRACE, MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE. YOU WILL BE MISSED. WE LOVED YOU BUT GOD HAVE LOVED YOU THE MOST. TAKULIRANI MAMA.

  25. Rest well God’s child. You have finished the race. You showed up and did what God sent you to. I will miss you. Ndilibe mantha ndi Namondwe, Nangula wanga ndi Yesuyo. AMEN

  26. May almighty Lord, Opened its door for you, You spent most of your time praising his holy name while on earth and now its the time to get paid for that, Hamba Kahle Sisi!

  27. Choti nkunena chikuchita kusowa, amayi muwutse mumtendere, kuchoka kwanu pano padziko lapansi kwatibweletsela mantha kti nanga osalafe tikuyenela kuchita chani, ummmmm abale moyowu ndiwobwelekadi ndithu ndalila ine…..!

  28. Wusani muntendera mama, ife a Malawi kuno ku SA takulirani kwambiri koma tili ndichilimbikitso podziwa kuti mupitiliza kuyimba ndi angelo. Hosana kumwambako!!

  29. Grace Chingas passing on is an ephemeral recumbent libernation an empyrean paradisiac rendezvous lies a head.Heavens is the terminus. The ecclesiastic and all Malawians at large have lost a solitaire any veritable verification of the verity of Graces demise. Iam in state of metagrabolised melancholia. May her soul rest in holy peace

  30. Grace,may your soul rest in eternal peace.Tidzasowa mapekedwe ako a nyimbo because they were very unique.Mumakamba zenizeni zochitika pa moyo osati zinazi mama……ndalira kwambiri mama…

  31. Very sad to lose people like grace really her songs touched my heart. Rest in peace chinga

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