Gospel Star Lundi Passes Away at Just 38

PRETORIA – Popular South African gospel singer Lundi Tyamara has passed away, his management announced on Friday. He was only 38.

Manager and family spokesperson, Anele Hlazo, said Tyamara passed on peacefully at 12.40am today at Edenvale Hospital, where he was being treated for TB (tuberculosis) of the stomach and a liver condition.

“Lundi put up a gallant fight against his illness but God’s will prevailed. We ask that his fans, supporters and followers join us in celebrating his life. We will always remember him for how he brightened up our days with his God-given talent. Rest in peace Lundi,” said Hlazo.

His death follows calls for the nation to pray for him. The family and management thanked South Africans and those in the neighbouring countries for their support, prayers and words of encouragement at this difficult time.

Tyamara started his solo career in 1998, where he dropped several hits such as Mphefumlo Wami, Mvulele Angene, and Khuluma Nabo, which saw him winning several awards at the SAMA Awards, KORA Awards and the Crown Gospel Music Awards.

A recent study of TB in KwaZulu-Natal found that the worst form of drug-resistant TB isn’t just arising from inadequate treatment, but is mainly being spread from person to person. South Africa has seen a 10-fold increase in the past ten years. It’s reported that one in 36,000 are now infected.

The EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) said: “Lundi Tyamara was one of us. He sang and performed on EFF stages even when it was unfashionable to do so… It is therefore not just an artist that has fallen but a revolutionary who used his talent to awaken our people spiritually and to partake in generational revolution of his time.”

Sources: SAnews.gov.za, EFF, New England Journal of Medicine

Watch Lundi – Khuluma Nabo

Lundi was one of us. A fighter, and an artist of truth and revolution! May his soul rest in perfect revolutionary peace. pic.twitter.com/S2EVRtARo1

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) January 27, 2017