Wisdom Chitedze: A star gone too soon
I sat for hours contemplating on how best to write this obituary to a very special person not only to Elsie and her boys, me, but I am sure to many more people and Mother Malawi; Wisdom “Qodesh” Chitedze an Afro R ‘n’ B and hip-hop artist.
Wisdom was poet and singer known for songs like Tipewe and Misonzi.
As I begun to write this article I wondered do I write it with emotions detached as it was to be posted on news online! But hey who said obituaries cannot have honesty and emotions attached to them, besides late Wisdom Chitedze is nothing less than a Big Brother to me.
So as I sat there reminiscing, a surge of emotions began to surface as these words rang at the back of my mind “Lydia wayamba matama” as he would often say whilst telling me about the importance of not neglecting relationships. He always had something intelligent to say. As I began to reflect on Wisdoms life and progressed to write, it became so easy and almost effortless because all I had to do was to write from the heart.
I am honoured to be given the humble duty of writing this piece dedicate to a God fearing, humble, breath-takingly awesome writer (that’s for those of you who know about his poetry and music), talented, and being unique are just a few of the reasons why many including myself were inspired by Wisdom.
Looking back in the early 90’s before anyone in Malawi was doing Urban Music on a major scale, Rap to be precise; Wisdom was pioneering a new wave of boldness by defying Traditional Malawian ‘Musical Comfort Zone’ by fusing Western musical culture with Malawian local music. He was infusing a mix of local lingua Chichewa and English.
Fast forward to now , in an era where there are many young fresh urbanites within the Malawian music scene who possibly may not even know Wisdoms work, I believe today though a sad day they ought to celebrate Wisdom the young man who paved the way for them.
As we celebrate the life and acknowledge the transition into eternal peace of Wisdom, as much as it hurts me to admit his passing, I will leave you all with these words. Live each day on planet earth with positive pages written into each chapter of your book called life, so that one day as others celebrate you; your book will be worth reading.
God has decided that the last chapter in Wisdoms book must be closed and his book to become an official timeless masterpiece full of life’s lessons, and now for us to cherish forever in our heart.
Wisdom has not only left behind a wife and his sons, but he has also left behind a legacy for young people to work hard for their dreams and to never compromise themselves while doing so.
If not you, he definitely taught me how to be strong in the face of adversity and I’m sure many others will concur; he gave us life lessons through the way he lived his life. In our hearts, we will never forget.
Wisdom is more than a legend, and he will live on forever in our hearts through his works. I hope his boys will grow up to know what an awesome Father, Husband, Man, Friend, Peer, Colleague, Brother and Son their Father was, is and always will be.
I salute you Wisdom “Qodesh” Chitedze. May your soul rest in eternal peace.
Farewell till we meet again!!
