Some of Zambia’s top musicians performed at a heartfelt concert to mourn 46-year-old gospel singer Matthew Ngosa, a day before his burial in Lusaka. The audience at the Praise Christian Centre joined in singing his beloved hits, which had resonated in both churches and nightclubs over his two-decade career.
The venue was packed with fans, friends, family, and government officials. Leading the mourners was his older brother Boyd, also a musician known as BJ. Matthew began his musical journey with BJ and his younger brother Hezron, singing a cappella in high school. Despite the challenges of piracy in Zambia, the brothers pursued their musical ambitions.
Matthew and Hezron formed The Ezma Brothers within a larger group called The Tribe Called Christians. Later, Matthew polished his skills with The Christ Ambassador Choir at Lusaka’s Northmead Assemblies of God Church. His 2004 debut album, Umutima Wandi (My Heart), dominated the music charts, followed by gospel hits like Ukulolela (Waiting) and Ndakunkula (Rolling to God in Praise), which also became club anthems.
Though he never became wealthy, Matthew made a decent living from his music until his diagnosis with liver cancer in January. He died just days before a scheduled check-up in India. His brother Hezron remembered Matthew’s sense of humor and strength: “He would go out of his way to make people happy. He was very strong even in sickness. He was a man of faith.”
Gospel musician Kings Mumbi echoed this sentiment, calling Matthew a mentor: “He was more than a brother. When a pastor invited Matthew to their church but couldn’t pay him, he wouldn’t mind because singing was part of his ministry.”
Matthew’s untimely death has deeply affected the nation. Televangelist and former Vice-President Nevers Mumba posted a heartfelt tribute on Facebook: “Your untimely death has crushed me, and broken the hearts of believers and shocked an entire nation. My only consolation is knowing you will announce your arrival in heaven from Zambia in style.”
President Hakainde Hichilema expressed condolences to the family, while his predecessor Edgar Lungu visited the funeral house. Matthew, who had two daughters with Tasila Ngombe, once served as a civic leader in Lungu’s party, the Patriotic Front.
BJ shared that their mother, Samaria Maswela, was instrumental in their musical careers: “She used to sing in church, and she introduced us to Sunday school music in the United Church of Zambia [UCZ] when we were kids.”
During the three-hour concert, Samaria joined BJ on stage with other tearful family members to sing Matthew’s classic Umutima Wandi, a praise song in the Bemba language, thanking God for life’s blessing
