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Arusha
singer dies in Jerusalem
He collapsed at a local church playing piano
By Valentine Marc Nkwame
 Arusha-based,
Pop-Gospel singer, Fanuel Sedekia passed away in Jerusalem City
early this week, after suffering a medley of mysterious illnesses for a
fortnight.
The singer died on Sunday, January 4, at the Poriah Hospital in Tiberias
after falling ill for about two weeks in Israel. Ever since his death
was announced last Monday evening the town was paralyzed in disbelief.
Sedekia, who, together with 58 other people went for a pilgrimage last
month. He left Arusha in good health on the 21st of December but two
days later after arriving in Jerusalem he simply collapsed.
The popular singer who had a major countrywide hit with his second album
‘Kwa Sababu ya Pendo’ in 2001 reportedly flew to Jerusalem last December
with the entourage of the Arusha based scripture teacher and economist,
Dr. Christopher Mwakasege. However, Sedekia fell ill on the second day
after their arrival in the Holy land. The singer collapsed at a local
church as he was playing a piano.
Fanuel Sedekia who formed the Arusha based band,
‘Evangelism-Through-Music (ETM)’ in the mid-nineties, is also a well
known artist when it comes to leading ‘praise chants’ during local
congregation gatherings.
His other popular works include ‘Unaweza’ his first album and ‘Unaweza
Tena’ his third album. Until his death, Sedekia’s discography had listed
five albums releases though reports have that there were more songs that
he had intended to release soon.
Sedekia, who used to work at the KIMAHAMA bookshop, along Col. Middleton
road, where his church is also located, has been helping other artists
either as guest singer or instrumentalist as well. He worked along
popular gospel producers such as Zakayo Diigula and Forgen Joel.
Pastor Mathias Mushi who is the Chairman for the Union of Christendom
Denomination could not be located when we tried to contact him this week
for comment. Rev. Mushi was among the people who went along with the
pilgrimage group to Israel. It wasn’t easy to find Sedekia’s wife who
had recently returned to Arusha. She had remained behind in Jerusalem at
her husband’s hospital bed when others flew back after the week-long
fateful pilgrimage.
Sedekia, according to people who were on the pilgrimage, was rushed to
hospital after collapsing. He was diagnosed with among other maladies,
diabetes, hypertension and high fever.
Dr. Mwakasege, one of the most respected preachers and Radio-evangelists
has been taking various groups of faithful people to Israel for the past
three years. The latest trips took place between November 29 and
December 6 and the follow up pilgrimage was held between December 14 and
21st.
Last December also saw another pilgrimage of more than 100 people who
also went to Israel but this other group was made up of people from Dar-es-Salaam
city and its suburbs.
Until going to press this week, there were efforts to raise money in
order pay for the passage of the late singer’s body from Jerusalem to
Arusha. Sedekia was a resident of Arusha but he was born in Kigoma
region.
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