Thousands bid farewell to celebrated Mzimba photographer

LUCKY MKANDAWIRE

Grief swallowed up Chanthomba village in Mzimba when thousands of people from far and beyond bid farewell to Winston Ng’ambi, a popular and respected photographer in the district.

Late Ng’ambi, popularly known as Mandevu or OG Issa was born in 1962 and died recently in the district after a long battle with backache, according to family members.

Over 2000 people attended his burial at his Chanthomba village in the area of Inkosi ya Makosi Mmbelwa IV.

In their tributes, the speakers described the veteran photographer as a humble person who was always handy to the needy people and embraced every person regardless of the status.

“The nation has lost a visionary and resourceful man who has greatly contributed to the development of the country’s economy through photography. He was a simple, very modest and supportive individual,” bemoaned Group Village Headman Peter Ndawandawa.

At the time of his death, late Ng’ambi was the regional chairman and national executive committee member of the Photographers Association of Malawi (PHOTAMA).

And reacting to the Ng’ambi’s death, PHOTAMA Secretary General Amos Kwadzanji said the association had lost a member who dedicated his life to progress the art of photography in the country.

“Ng’ambi was had a humble personality. He was an accomplished artist and very productive to the association. His death is a big loss to the photography industry in Malawi,” grieved Kwadzanji who attended the burial ceremony was among  a  and

Hundreds of people from all walks of life on Sunday paid their last respects to a renowned Mzimba based photographer Winston Mandevu Ng’ambi.

According to family members, late Ng’ambi died peacefully at his home village, Chanthomba, in the area of Paramount Chief Inkosi ya Makosi Mmbelwa IV after a long illness.

At the time of his death, late Ng’ambi was regional chairman and national executive committee member of the Photographers Association of Malawi (PHOTAMA).  

In his eulogy, PHOTAMA Board Member Justin Chinkhuntha said the association had lost a pillar of photography not only in the region but the country as a whole.

“Late Ng’ambi was the mainstay of photography. He committed his life to developing the art of photography. You will all bear witness that a photograph and him were inseparable. So his death has robbed us a bank of inspiration and creativity,” mourned Chinkhuntha.

The departed admired photographer, nicknamed Mandevu while others fondly called him OG Issa, planted several photo collection depots in rural areas across northern region and was also an agent for Green Colour Photo studio.

Late Ng’ambi is survived by a wife and six children.