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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KapandaHastings
7 years ago

May her soul rest in eternal peace.I’ll realy miss her talents.

jana mussa
7 years ago

tikulilabe ife kuno timamukonda komaso

Memory Marie Hara
Memory Marie Hara
7 years ago

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?????????

Prince kerie jnr
Prince kerie jnr
7 years ago

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

kate
kate
7 years ago

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.

ashley
7 years ago

zinandkhuza ndimva iz

Imani maida
7 years ago

May your soul Grace Chinga rest in peace.

sinta
7 years ago

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

Oken
Oken
7 years ago

RIP

Captain diehard
Captain diehard
7 years ago

Rip grace

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