SINGER Joe Chibangu complained of severe headache since mid January and was noticed vomiting blood before his sudden death, ZambianMusic.Net quoted a relative as saying.
According to the local music website, which has released a tribute song for the 41-year-old pioneer of contemporary Zambian music, a cousin who took him to the hospital reported to doctors at Coptic Hospital about his strange condition.
Joe Chibangu was taken to Coptic Hospital already dead. His cousin told doctors that since mid January he had been complaining of severe headache and started vomiting blood,” the music website reported moments after the singer’s death.
Chibangu, famously known as the music ‘ambassador’ was discovered dead at his residence in Lusaka’s Thornpark area this morning.
According to family members, Chibangu was found laying motionless on the floor in his home by his niece who alerted other family members.
Joe Chibangu, A limitless creative mind and raw vocalist.. Joe a true legend, a real king of Zed R&b, one of the…
Posted by Chembe Vincent Claudius on Sunday, February 5, 2017
The family then rushed him to Coptic Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“He wasn’t even sick, he’s been fine all along so this is very shocking. We suspect it must have been hypertension but we will have to wait for the official postmortem results. And the sad part is that his wife isn’t even around,” said a family member.
Chibangu, who began his music career on the Copperbelt in the 90s, was one of the founding pioneers of contemporary Zambian music.
Passing of #JoeChibangu breaks my heart. Ba popo, as we used to call each other, you are a memorable, incomparable LEGEND Joe. RIP dear Joe pic.twitter.com/ThOpqtOo5x
— Chela Katwishi (@ChelaKatwishi) February 3, 2017
He made his entry into the industry under his group Rap Prophets and later worked with a number of emerging musicians at the time like JK, Mainza and Wille.
In Lusaka, he found his feet at the Mondo Music working with then music promoter Chisha Folotiya.
It was at Mondo that Chibangu, as producer, developed music careers of artistes like, Shatel, Tribal Cousins, Black Muntu and many others; earning him the title ‘Ambassador’.
He further went on to produce his debut album titled ‘The Ambassador’.
His memorable songs include ‘Sera‘, ‘Bamudala‘, ‘Takwakabe‘; featuring Danny, ‘ I’ll be waiting‘ featuring K’Millian, ‘Dezelo‘ featuring MC Wabwino and ‘ Unjelele‘ featuring late PJ.
He is survived by a wife and three children.
