He knew what he wanted in life

GOSPEL sensation Lundi Tyamara was laid to rest in an emotional funeral service at Zwelethemba Stadium in Worcester yesterday.

Family members, gospel musicians, fans, politicians and the community as a whole came out to bid the star farewell.

Artists such as Deborah Fraser, Veliswa Skeyi, Jaziel Brothers, Dumi Mkokstad, Bethusile Mcinga, Kholeka and Rebecca Malope performed at the service.

Speaker after speaker defined Tyamara as a person who knew what he wanted in life.

Thobeka Sogwagwa – a friend who was with him until his last days – had known Tyamara since he was a young boy.

“We shared moments, even birthdays. We had a mother-and-son relationship,” she said. Sogwagwa gave a blow-by-blow account of when Tyamara’s health deteriorated.

She said he became sick in September when he was diagnosed with too much acid his body.

“I remember I had to force him to go to hospital. When he was in hospital he complained that he had to spend his birthday in hospital.”

Nokuzola Ndyamara, Lundi’s older sister, said the family had Nokuzola Ndyamara, Lundi’s older sister, said the family were still hurting and it would take time to heal. learnt a lot from him. “He taught us to love and appreciate each other as family. Whenever he came back, he insisted we all sleep in the dining room on the floor.

“Whenever he had done wrong he would apologise because he was a peaceful person. As a family we are still hurting, and it will take time to heal.”

Gospel singer Bethusile Mcinga said: “Lundi was a true friend. We were together through thick and thin times. But I learned that he never compromised, and he knew exactly what he wanted.

“He was very naughty, and full of nonsense at times. He was a loving person. He was happy and full of life. He loved and cared for his family.”

Mcinga said he flew in an aeroplane for the first time in his life because Tyamara had bought a ticket for him. “We had fun. We would fly from Jozi to Cape Town just to eat breakfast. Lundi was famous all over Africa.”

ANC councillor Mthetheleli Mkhiwane joked the ANC won many wards because of Lundi. “Lundi came to campaign for us for free.”

Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa said: “We are here to celebrate a life well lived and a life that nourished our soul. As we gather here, we shed tears of joy because we loved him.”

Minister of Women in the Presidency Susan Shabangu, who read a message from Daphne MashileNkosi – who was a second mother to Tyamara – said: “[She] came to bury him not to praise him. He belongs to a breed of special human beings. Lundi stood as a towering figure. We are deeply saddened that the special human being left us early.”

Tyamara died last week Friday after a struggle with stomach TB and liver complications.

Tyamara was laid to rest at Zwelethemba Cemetery yesterday.

A tombstone was also unveiled. His music played as his coffin was lowered into the ground.

“He was happy and full of life. He loved and cared for his family