Orbituary: Sam Mpasu’s last leg, Hamba kahle Biyeni!

The  military  honours  and  the  display of the  traditional  Ingoma  dance  was  perhaps the  symbol  of  late  Sam  Mpasu‘s character.

 Yes  not  everybody  supported  him in some of the  fights  he passionately involved  himself in but  it remains an unindisputable fact by both  his  friends and  foes  imaginary and otherwise,   that  Biyeni  as was  fondly  called  by  his close  friends , was  a fighter.

In some of his fights  Mpasu  was  a lone man  to the  contrary  his death  pulled  all the people  together.

The harmony  in the  spiritual  songs  played in slow rhythm  by the  Malawi Defence Force (MDF)  brass  band was  symbolic.

As he  travelled  his  last  mile  from  his  village  house  to the  grave  yard  one  could  easily  notice  from  the crowd  that  followed,  led by  vice-president  Saulosi  Chilima  that  Sam  was  not  a plebian  from  the  dusty  settlement  of  Nkhudzi  village  in  Ntcheu  district.  He  was  a persona.

The length of the sermon by  Bishop Joseph Mbewe  was  compnasated   by the it’s power,  relevance  and  of course artistry humour.

In the  grave  yard  some  relatively  young  people  defied  the tradition  as  they  climbed  in the  trees  to catch  a glimpse  of the proceedings.

As the  casket  carrying his remains  lowered in the  grave,  his  children  could  not  hold  their  emotions.

 The  eldest  daughter  Silaba,  had  only  a pole  which  buttressed  the  tent  which  gave  shelter  to  the  bereaved  and some  dignitaries to lean  on as tears  rolled  down her  cheek.

His  brother, Joseph struggled  to hold  firm  to the  Ngoni dictates.  “Mamuna  samalira“.  He  instead  looked in the  air for some seconds  before  burying  his head  on his lap.

It  was  a moment  of  byes  with  their  father while  the  activities  by  the  Malawi  Defence  Force  and his  tribes men,  the  Maseko  Ngoni  were  that  of  a celebration  for  the  life  of  a great man.

If  it was possible  for  a writer  to  write  about  his  own  death,  perhaps  Mpasu could  have  authored  an award winning  story  replete  with  an Epitaph  which the  minds of  any writer can  only  imagine.

From  Prisoner 375, countless published articles  to the Chief  Gossip  in the defunct  UDF  News  to his  political  life  a page  is  inadequate  but a book.

Of course  his  works  especially the  published  one  will remain  to  tell  a   tale of his life.

At exactly  4:00 pm the burial ceremony  came to an  end. with a prayer offered  by  Rev. Christopher Gondwe  and  finally the  Malawi National Anthem  played by the  Malawi Defence Force  brass  band.

Mpasu  probably fought a good fight and walked  a worthwhile  journey.

May his Soul Rest in Peace.