Can Kenyan Actors Get such a Hero’s Send-Off?

By on April 13, 2012

So leading Tanzanian actor Charles Stephen Kanumba was laid to rest on Tuesday this week in a burial ceremony that was attended by virtually thousands of fans. What we are wondering is if any Kenyan actor or celebrity would be so ostentatiously celebrated in death. Lets have a look at the the funeral procession highlights…

At the farewell was the Vice President of Tanzania, Gharib Billal, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Bernard Membe, the First Lady Mama Salma Kikwete, the Minister for Housing Prof. Anna Tibaijuka, Members of the country’s parliament like Joseph Mbilinyi (Mr 11), a Member of Parliament for the opposition Chadema and also the Shadow Minister for Information, Sports and Culture.

Tens of thousands; infact unofficial estimates place the figure at almost thirty thousand fans, came out to bid farewell to Kanumba. For the first time also Tanzania, a farewell and funeral was equated to the magnitude of that of the late father of the East African nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
More than 200 fans fainted during the ceremony and 4 people have been confirmed to have died.

The late Stephen Kanumba was also an Oxfam ambassador. The cause of his death is still unclear, though there are allegations it was due to an altercation with his lover, Lulu Michael, another upcoming actress who is alleged to have pushed him when they had an argument at Kanumba’s residence at Sinza Vatican, around midnight after Good Friday.

Sample a few pictures (courtesy of Bongo 5) from the ceremony below:

kanumba wema