Tears for Lundi
Singer Winnie Mashaba during the memorial service of gospel music star Lundi Tyamara at the Grace Bible Church in Soweto yesterday.
GOSPEL star Lundi Tyamara died a broken man.
Speaking to thousands of mourners gathered at the Grace Bible Church in Pimville, Soweto, yesterday to pay tribute to Tyamara, his close friend Sindile Simama opened up about the muso’s personal life.
“It is a pity because I feel South Africa is mourning a stranger. South Africa didn’t know Lundi. They knew the Lundi the media sold to them for 20 years; it was a lie and they bought it,” Simama lashed.
“Everybody is not perfect, we have weaknesses but they chose to show that side of him.”
Simama was referring to reports about the late musician’s sexuality, alcohol abuse and drug addiction.
“It’s been over 10 years that Lundi has not been on drugs but today all we hear since he passed is that Lundi was on drugs.
“He was fragile at the same time. No one can survive 20 years of torture and not break. He did break and tried to cover it up but when you have one-on-ones [with him] you could see the brokenness in him.”
Simama added that the musician had not recovered from the pain of losing his mother. He said the muso would call him in the middle of the night crying because he missed his mother.
He also described the musician as a loving person with a soft side to him.
“Lundi was very kind and caring. He was the type of guy who would take in a stranger, someone he had never met in his life, house them, clothe and feed them.”
Among guests in attendance were musicians Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Tshidi Mholo and Deborah Fraser.
Gauteng MEC for sports and recreation Faith Mazibuko, former SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, and late gospel star S’fiso Ncwane’s widow Ayanda.
Tyamara’s close family members, including his younger brother Siyabonga, were also present. Family members sobbed uncontrollably throughout the proceedings as artists went on stage to sing the late muso’s favourite hits. Siyabonga, was unable to speak as his cousin Yonda Maqi held his hand. Maqi said the Tyamara family lost a caring breadwinner. “Lundi grew up with a lot of love for his family. Even when he started working here in Gauteng he never forgot about any of us back home. His family always came first ... He worked and remembered that people back home needed food,” she said. Tyamara will be buried on Sunday at his home town of Worcester, Western Cape.