Zambians mourn popular gospel singer in churches and clubs

Some of Zambia’s top musicians have performed at a concert in memory of 46-year-old gospel singer Matthew Ngosa, a day before he was buried in the capital Lusaka.

The audience sang along to his favorite hits at the Praise Christian Center.

Some of his songs were so popular that they were played not only in churches but also in nightclubs throughout his two-decade career.

The Lusaka venue was packed with fans, friends, family and government officials. His brother Boyd, also a musician – known as BJ – led the funeral procession.

Matthew began singing with BJ and his younger brother Hezron when they were in high school, often singing a cappella.

They knew they wanted to pursue a career in music – not an easy ambition in a country where piracy means most musicians make very little money from their music.

Matthew and Hezron formed a duo called The Ezma Brothers within a larger group called The Tribe Called Christians.

Later, at Northmead Assemblies of God Church in Lusaka, Matthew joined the Christ Ambassador Choir where he honed his skills.

In 2004, he released his highly successful debut album, Umutima Wandi (My Heart), which dominated the music charts.

Next came gospel songs like Ukulolela (Waiting) and Ndakunkula (Rolling to God in Praise) – two songs that also became anthems for nightclub goers.

Matthew Ngosa was never rich, but was able to make a decent living from his hits before he was diagnosed with liver cancer in January.

He died two days before he was scheduled to return to India for a medical check-up.

Hezron told the BBC he would miss his brother’s sense of humour: “He would go out of his way to make people happy. He was very strong even when he was sick. He was a man of faith.”

This generous spirit was embodied by gospel musician Kings Mumbi.

“For me, he was a mentor. When I recorded my first song, I brought it to him for criticism and that’s why I never strayed. He was more than a brother,” he told the BBC.

“When a pastor invites Matthew Ngosa to his church to sing but cannot pay him, he will not bother that pastor because for Matthew, singing is part of his ministry. He sees it as a way to spread the word of God.”

The growth of the Zambian music industry may be affected by piracy, but most Christians prefer to buy original albums directly from musicians as a way to promote the growth of gospel music.

Others believe that buying pirated gospel music is a sin equivalent to theft.

“His sudden death has devastated me, broken the hearts of people of faith and shocked an entire nation,” televangelist and former Vice President Nevers Mumba posted on Facebook after Ngosa’s death was announced on Friday.

“My only consolation is that I know you will announce your arrival from Zambia to heaven in style. When you walk through that golden door, I can almost hear you singing with all the power your vocal cords can manage.”

His words reflect the deep grief for Ngosa in Zambia, a largely Christian country with a high church attendance.

President Hakainde Hichilema has sent his condolences to the family while his predecessor Edgar Lungu visited the funeral home on Saturday.

Ngosa, who has two daughters with Tasila Ngombe, served as a civilian leader in Mr Lungu’s Patriotic Front party.

BJ told the BBC that their mother, Samaria Maswela, was instrumental in the careers of all three Ngosa brothers.

“She used to sing in church and her mother and father used to sing too. Our mother was the one who introduced us to Sunday school music at the United Church of Zambia [UCZ] when we were children.”

She joined BJ on stage at the end of the three-hour concert on Sunday, along with other weeping family members, to sing Matthew’s classic Umutima Wandi – a Bemba song of praise, thanking God for life’s blessings.