Hundreds turn out to remember actor Kanumba

Dar es Salaam. Hundreds of film artistes and fans yesterday marked one year since film star Steven Kanumba died.
They said that his gap had not been filled in the Tanzania film industry. A service was held at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania at Kimara Temboni at around 7am.

After the service, Kanumba’s family prepared food.Around 4pm flowers were laid on his grave at Kinondoni cemetery.Then they proceeded to the Leaders Club where his last movie ‘Love and power’ was launched.

Kanumba died before the film was released.

The memorial ceremony was attended by guests from different parts of the world including the US, Ghana and Nigeria. The ceremony was also attended by actress Elizabeth Michael, a.k.a, Lulu who has been charged with Kanumba’s death.

Kanumba’s international manager, Prince Richard from Miami in the US, told The Citizen that the Tanzania movie industry had lost an important figure who could propel movies to a global status.

According to him, “Kanumba had big feet and when he left his shoes there is no Bongo movie artiste who has tried to wear his shoes”… The shoes are there but no one to wear because they are very big and their feet are too small.”

He said: “Bongo movie is the second largest industry after Nollywood… Bongo movies have at least 200 million viewers… Bongo movies have best quality of picture than Nollywood.”

Kanumba’s manager said: “Moreover, Bongo movies need trans- African partnership something that our brother Kanumba did when he crossed borders to Nigeria, US and Europe.

Tanzania Association of Films Simon Mwakifamba urged Bongo movie artistes to work hard in creativity so as to pay true tribute to Kanumba.

He also said no one had to fill the gap left by him.

His mother Flora Mutego thanked his son’s fans for attending at the memorial ceremony.

She said their huge attendance meant that Tanzanians valued her son’s works.