Tributes pour in for Malawi music star Thomas Chibade

According to local reports, Chibade succumbed to malaria. His death follows that of Atoht Manje, who passed away after performing.

Music In Africa spoke to Malawian artists and music professionals following Chibade’s passing.

“He is fondly remembered in the country as a pioneer of a distinct genre of music in Malawi. He is one of the few artists that made money on the local scene,” Malawi Music Crossroads director Matthews Mfune told Music In Africa. “It is quite disheartening that he died a pauper.”

ELYSIAN Magazine editor Thoko Kadewere said: “Thomas Chibade is part of a lot of people’s core memories. There was no local bar that didn’t play his music. Even when you weren’t actively looking to listen to his music, he was still there – a fabric of Malawian communities and a storyteller of the diverse emotions of what it feels like to live and commune with others.

“He had an exceptional skill of conveying messages in such a way that you could feel the emotion behind his words, but still be moved by the light-heartedness of his music. His passing is not only a loss to the music industry, it is a loss to the thousands of Malawians who have millions of memories attached to a Chibade song. That was his impact, that even in his passing, he has given us a lot to remember him for and hold on to.”

Fellow singer Tuno said: “It’s really sad, the fact that this year we’ve lost more than three artists. It really hurts.”

Chibade’s history in music was narrated in a lengthy obituary authored by local cultural and political writer Wonderful Mkhutche on Facebook.

“A lot can and will be written about Chibade,” part of Mkhutche’s post reads. “Today, we are told that he is gone after a long fight with several career distractions. We mourn the loss with deepest feelings of a talent gone too soon. But for the little time we had with this genius from Mayaka, we are thankful for sharing his talent with us.”

Known as Chenkhumba, Chibade rose to fame in the early 2000s with his album Zatukusira, named after a Chichewa word meaning ‘it has come out’. In the album, Chibade has one of his most famous songs, ‘Mawu Anga’. He also worked with Lucius Banda, who featured him on a song called ‘Kalata Ya Chitatu’ off the Enemy album. 

A wide range of important topics were addressed in Thomas Chibade's songs, leaving a lasting impression on his audience. Some of the topics covered include unemployment, gender-based violence, romance, women empowerment, death and injustice.