Goodbye Sam, Goodbye Owen

Headlines, News, Showbiz — By on March 19, 2010 11:26 pm

By Shepherd Mutamba

Sam Mtukudzi and Owen Chimhare were laid to rest in graves side by side at Warren Hills Cemetery in Harare on Wednesday as police battled to control thousands of mourners lining a dusty road to the graves and waving goodbye to the two buddies as the hearses snailed into the graveyard.

The atmosphere was not solemn. It was never going to be. It turned out to be one massive celebration of the lives of two young ones cut short and tragically so. Sam (22) and Owen (24) died on the spot on Monday in Harare after their car slammed into a bridge along the Bulawayo road as they drove home to Norton.

There are those who simply wanted to touch the two caskets carrying the bodies. Some jostled to place roses on the coffins. Others sang loudly. But even more people stood in silence – arms folded, heads bowed weeping.

Motorists on the Bulawayo highway, leading into Harare from Norton, pulled over in respect as the hearses approached. Passersby watched some shaking their heads in sympathy some shooting pictures from their small picnic cameras.

Sam and Owen’s deaths ceased to be a loss to the Mtukudzi and Chimhare families alone. It became a loss to everyone from all walks of life united through music. The two had lived well the short lives blessed them and had touched many people in so many different ways and levels of life.

Several thousands of mourners attended a church service held for the two at Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton, 45 kilometres outside the capital. The center was founded by Oliver Mtukudzi in 2003 and develops young artists in various disciplines.

Sam and Owen were friends who went to high school together, lived together in the same house in Norton and worked in the same musical group the Ay Band. Owen was the sound engineer and Sam the singer and bandleader blessed with skills to write and arrange music and play drums, marimba, sax and the guitar.

Sam occasionally played in his father’s band The Black Spirits touring the world and performing together at international festivals.

Diplomats, cabinet ministers, lawmakers, corporate executives, church and civic leaders visited the Mtukudzi family in Norton last night to pay condolences including Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Vice Prime Ministers Arthur Mutambara and Thokozani Khupe. President Robert Mugabe sent condolences.

Goodbye Sam, goodbye Owen!

See pictures of the funeral courtesy of Tukumusik.com

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