A year of loss and legacy in music and entertainment

Photo Collage of Shari Martin Princess Jully, Marco Joseph and Teddy Kalanda.[Courtesy]

Across Kenya, Africa, and beyond, fans and families have mourned the loss of artists whose contributions left indelible marks on their communities, countries, and crafts.

From the soulful notes of choral compositions to the rhythms of benga and the fervor of gospel and contemporary music, the year claimed icons who shaped the soundtracks of generations. Their deaths are a somber reminder of life’s fragility but also a celebration of their lasting legacies.

Marco Joseph of the Zabron Singers Group succumbed to heart disease on August 21 while undergoing treatment at Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute in Tanzania.

He suffered a heart attack while the group was on a mission trip to Kenya forcing him to remain behind to seek treatment. Doctors said his heart had a problem than required an emergency surgery.

Known for the stirring Swahili anthem Mkono wa Bwana, Marco’s music touched hearts across East Africa.

His brother and choir chairman, Japhet Zabron, recalled Marco’s dedication even in the face of health challenges: “Doctors said his heart needed emergency surgery, but God had other plans.”

Among the songs he was famous for with the group are Mkono wake Bwana, Swetie Sweetie, Sisi Ndio Wale, Uko Single, Nakutuma Wimbo and many others.

Teddy Kalanda, co-founder of the iconic band Them Mushrooms, died on September 17 at his home in Kaloleni, Kilifi County after a long battle with cancer for six years.

Best remembered for Jambo Bwana, a song that transcended borders, Kalanda’s music celebrated Kenya’s culture and identity.

The band is especially known for its hit song Jambo Bwana released in 1980. The band’s discography boasts more than 15 albums and popular singles like Unkula Huu, Wazee Wakatike, Nyambura, Ndogo Ndogo, and Hapo Kale.

An accomplished saxophone player and vocalist, Kalanda was also the owner of Big Matata Productions record company.

The artist was also known for using music to promote charity work, helping raise funds for organisations seeking to reduce poverty and hunger, and those fighting injustice.

The artist was also remembered as a huge inspiration for many artists from Kenya’s Coastal region.

Gospel legend Shari Martin, famed for his hit Rafiki Pesa, passed away on August 2 at age 54 after a brief illness where he was diagnosed with pneumonia.

His songs, blending spirituality with the struggles of everyday life, resonated deeply with young Kenyans.

He was a skilled chef and worked in the hotel industry before fully transitioning to music.

His other songs include: Mambo ya Dunia, Tangazo la Ajabu and Wanadamu ni Waongo among others.

Lillian Auma Aoka, popularly known as Princess Jully of the Dunia Mbaya fame, passed on Saturday October 12 aged 54.

The Benga Queen who gave voice to societal issues through her anthem Dunia Mbaya broke taboos around HIV/AIDS and championed awareness in her community.

Despite personal struggles, she redefined Luo traditional music and inspired countless musicians.

The popular musician died at the Migori County Referral Hospital where she had been admitted for two months after she suffered multiple organ failure.

Princess Jully who was the last born in a family of nine, grew up in a remote village called Macalder in South Nyanza.

After her husband died in 1997, she took over his band and propelled it to national fame following the footsteps of one of her icons, Congolese singer Mbilia Bel.

Her dream has always been to redefine the Luo traditional music by bringing back the traditional instruments.

Princess Jully was also a member of the Divas of the Nile group, along with Suzanna Owiyo, the late Achieng Abura, and Mercy Myra.

Samuel Blasto Ooko, a towering figure in Kenyan choral music, took his final bow at the age of 70, at Kijabe Hospital in Kiambu, leaving behind a legacy that resonates across generations and continents.

Choral music legend Blasto Ooko died on September 16, leaving behind over 1,500 compositions that fused folk melodies with modern choral styles.

His iconic sacred works, including Jiwe la Pembeni, Binadamu Unaitwa, Musa Ninakutuma, and Ukweli na Usemwe, Binadamu Unaitwa became anthems elevated Kenyan music to international stages.

At his death, he was in a team of other fellow directors compiling an ACK hymnal.

Blasto’s musical genius lay in his ability to blend Kenyan folk melodies with modern choral styles, drawing from Luhya, Luo, and other tribal traditions to create compositions that felt both personal and universal.

His compositions—more than 1,500 in total—transcended genres and touched lives. His work also extended to patriotic and social harmony songs. Twampenda Moi, a tribute to Kenya’s second president, Daniel Arap Moi, and Ukweli na Usemwe.

His contributions earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Head of State Commendation for his exceptional service to the nation’s music scene.

In 2018, his contributions were honored when he was inducted as the fourth Canon at ACK St. Luke’s Makupa.

Blasto’s passing marks the end of an era in Kenyan choral music. His legacy, however, lives on through his timeless compositions, which have inspired generations and elevated Kenya’s choral music to international acclaim.

Actress Winnie Bwire, known for her role as Dida in Sultana, lost her battle with cancer on September 5.

Her fight for survival captured public attention after she appealed for financial support for her treatment, a plea that underscored the human vulnerability behind celebrity lives.

Recently she had requested financial assistance to help with her cancer treatment amounting to Sh7 million.

Gospel artist Patrick Karanja, better known as Pati Junior, tragically died in a car accident on November 15, shortly after launching a new album. A rising star, his death stunned fans and reminded many of the fleeting nature of life.

Nigerian singer and actress Onyeka Onwenu, known for her hit One Love, died on August 13 at age 72. A trailblazer in music and Nollywood, her contributions extended to politics and advocacy, making her a beloved and multifaceted icon.

August 13, Veteran Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress, Ms Onyeka Onwenu has passed away at the age of 72. 

Onwenu launched her music career in the 1980s debuted with the album For the Love of You in 1981 and went on to release numerous albums and singles, including the popular track One Love.

And veteran South African gospel artist Solomon Molokoane, popularly known as Solly Moholo, has died at the age of 65.

Moholo, known for his healing melodies like Ka Letsatsi La Bofelo, succumbed to illness on October 2. His music, rich with spiritual depth, provided solace to countless listeners over decades.

The award-winning music icon had been in hospital for several weeks after falling ill while on a music tour in Botswana last month.

He rose to fame in the early 2000s and became a household name in South African traditional gospel music.

His management said he would be fondly remembered for the “healing music he gave us over the years”.

His team said he had suffered a stroke and was experiencing multiple organ failure, he passed on 2nd October 2024 whilst in hospital.

Moholo was known for hits such as Die poppe sal dans, Ka letsatsi labofelo, Tsoha Jonase and many others.

His powerful voice, passion for spreading the word of God, and dedication to uplifting the spirits of many through his music will forever be remembered.

The Southern African music industry was also thrown in mourning on the passing of Basotho rapper, singer and songwriter Malome Vector, who perished in a car accident in the Free State along with two other artists Lizwi Lokuqula and Puleng Phoofolo while en route to Lesotho to film a music video. He was 32.    

The world lost a musical giant with the passing of Antoine Nedule Monswet, affectionately known as Papa Noel, on November 24, 2024.

At 84, the legendary Congolese guitarist left behind a legacy as rich and resonant as the melodies he created, shaping the global identity of Congolese rumba, known internationally as soukous.

His mentor, Léon Bukasa, coined the nickname by playfully reversing Noel’s real name, a fitting tribute to a young prodigy whose artistry was destined to become timeless.

Later, as part of the group Kékélé, Noel recorded Rumba Congo, a return to the classic rumba style he had helped pioneer. Despite declining health, he continued to create, with albums like Cafe Noir in 2007 serving as vibrant testaments to his enduring artistry.

Papa Noel’s impact stretched far beyond Congo, resonating across Africa and the world. His timeless tracks, including El Bombon Asesino, Le Bon Samaritain and Bel Ami remain beloved classics.