Local popular comedian to be buried today

Dar es Salaam/Tanga. Thousands of mourners are today expected to attend the burial of popular comedian and musician Ramadhan Hussein Mkiety, popularly known as Sharo Milionea, in Muheza District, Tanga Region. Mkiety, 27, died when the car he was driving overturned on the Tanga-Segera highway in Muheza District on Monday evening. According to sources at Muheza District Hospital, where the deceased’s body was taken, arrangements for his burial at Msanga Village were being finalised.Hundreds of mourners converged on his parents’ home in Muheza District and at the hospital.Mkiety’s death was the top news item on most radio and television stations and blogs for the better part of yesterday. Tanga Regional Police Commander Constantine Massawe said Mkiety was alone in the car when the accident occurred at around 8.30pm, adding that the artiste was already dead when the first rescuers arrived at the scene. “The deceased was driving a Toyota Harrier with the registration T478 BVR.  He lost control and the vehicle overturned several times, causing his death,” he said. Some eyewitnesses said they heard a tyre burst shortly before the accident. Mbaramo Ward Councilor Seif Makame said they did not find anything of value on the body when they arrived at the accident scene. “It seems that the first people who arrived at the scene took his mobile phone, cash and other valuables.  In fact, they even took his clothes as the body was almost naked,” Mr Makame said. Muheza District Hospital was a beehive of activity yesterday as hundreds of grief stricken residents jostled to view the comedian’s body. Veteran comedian King Majuto, who was instrument in Mkiety’s rise to stardom, was lost for words. “I can’t say anything…no words can describe this,” he said. Mkiety’s peculiar comedy style that depicted a spoilt, rich young man, who could not even run after a pickpocket, captured the hearts of many TV viewers in the country. In another development, Mkiety’s close relatives confirmed that the comedian was taking some money to his mother. Their assertions were confirmed by a tweet he had sent to Bongo Flava musician Linex on Sunday night regarding the visit to his parents’ home on Monday. The two chatted on future plans of a collabo (a recording in which two artistes sing jointly) and Linex urged him to drive carefully. In addition to comedy Mkiety, was also a rising music star, having released some songs, either singly or through collabos.His producer, Charles Kanjenje, said the artiste was putting final touches to an album scheduled to be released in January, next year through Kiri Records. “We had so many plans for the future. He was talking of recruiting youngsters to teach them his style of music, which he dubbed Kupedekalee. His death has surely left a void in the industry,” Mr Kanjenje said, adding that he would carry on some of the plans in the late artiste’s honour.