‘We Have Lost Our Everything'

The memorial service for Lundi Tyamara was as colourful and controversial as the late gospel star.

- Hopewell Mpapu And Siyabonga Kamnqa

THE crowd packs into the Grace Bible Church in Soweto, famous faces from the music industry sitting next to devastated family members as they prepare to say farewell to the gospel star who was as controversial as he was colourful.

They listen in respectful silence as fellow gospel artist Sechaba Pali sings a rousing rendition of Lundi Tyamara’s hit, Ke Matla, then watch as he prepares to address the congregation.

But if they’re expecting him to deliver an emotional eulogy to his friend and colleague, they are sorely mistaken. An epic rant is what they get instead.

A fired-up Sechaba proceeds to tear strips off gospel artists, labelling them “liars who don’t love each other”.

“I know Lundi can’t speak for himself now but I will speak on his behalf,” he says, his voice quivering with emotion. “I am sick and tired of all the lies in this cruel gospel music industry. We have families and children to support. It pains me that there are many things that get swept under the carpet. We are only celebrated when we die.”

There’s a stunned silence as he continues. “Nobody cares about artists when they’re alive. Instead unscrupulous individuals, who only want to enrich themselves at our expense, come here to the stage and speak all sorts of lies.

“Enough is enough. Where were you when Lundi was lying in that hospital bed fighting for his life? But then you come here and claim to have loved him. This has got to stop now. We don’t love each other as gospel artists.”