THE death of Zambia’s legendary
songbird Angela Nyirenda’s son, Khuzwayo, 15, is quite shocking.
Though the majority Zambian
public have only known the existence of this young lad through his mom’s ballad
“Khuzawo” from her first album Malo Abwino in 2004, I had several close
encounters with this boy.
I first met this young man just
three years after his mother released her first album. Angela was at the time
staying in Kaunda Square Stage II. I think it was in early 2007 if my memory
serves me right. She was renting a quarter at the same residence where my
homeboy Bruce Mwewa used to rent another quarter. I remember the first time I
saw the boy. He was walking alongside his mom, holding her hand’
I remember my boy Bruce
directing my attention with his head towards Angela and her son before he said,
“That is the famous Khuzwayo”. I thought to myself, that is one handsome little
man.
Two years passed before I again
run into this boy. This time it was in Lusaka West. As fate would have it, my
homeboy Ndakala Lesa used to rent a house at the same farm where I believe
Angela Nyirenda and Moses Sakala are rented another house. I believe they still
live there. From that time onwards, I always bumped into this boy playing with
his friends along the dusty road every time I was in Lusaka West during my June
and December Varsity vacations.
I used to have dreadlocks
between 2008 and 2011 and I remember how the boy would give me this look
whenever we run into each other within or outside the farm. I swear, every time
I ran into this boy I thought he was going to follow his mom’s steps and become
a singer some day.
I even entertained this idea
that he would one day become a huge star and I would go on to write an article about
how I watched him play with his friends in the dusty roads of Lusaka West. I
last saw Khuzwayo in December 2014. He was as usual playing with his friends
along the same dusty road. I still remember what he was wearing.
I never had a chance of talking
to this boy. But he struck me as a cool, calm and thoughtful young lad. And it
was not only his dreads that made him stand out among his peers. He just had
this aura that told you he was a special kid.
"Khuzwayo mwana wangu. Khuzwayo niku konda. Khuzwayo
oh. Khuzwayo niku konda neo." For sure Angela loved her son with a mother's love and I
can’t even begin to imagine what she is going through losing two young sons within
a space of five years.
I have searched high and low
for the song “Khuzwayo” on the Internet this morning and I can’t find it
anywehere. All the links claiming to have the song have turned out to be dead
ends. Please if anyone has the song, I would appreciate if you can forward it
to me either through the WhatsApp line +27713789370 or email: LubutoWestFoundation@yahoo.com.
I will really appreciate that.
I send my prayers and thoughts to Angela and her family. And may the soul of Khuzwayo rest in eternal peace. See
you on the other side little man.
