•Sunday, September 10, 2006
this must be a hard and grieving time for my favourite kenyan gospel artist reuben kigame. maybe even harder for him than when he realised he was becoming blind while still young. mercy wanderwa kigame, reuben’s wife passed on last tuesday following a road accident near kabarak university after her car rammed into a lorry. that was the most shocking news to my ears since last year september when i lost a loved one. death has a way of defying comprehension and kigame’s loss resuscitated the grief, denial and guilt that has refused to go away one year down the line. myriads of questions clouding my mind regarding the fairness of living go unanswered. mercy had been kigame’s best earthly companion and only god understands why he needed her that soon.
reuben has been a source of consolation and encouragement to many through his musical ministry with sifa voices (who brought us the popular church worship ‘wastahili bwana’). in addition, through his word of truth ministries and the newly launched 97.1 fish fm based in eldoret, he has touched many hearts. i never missed his sermons whenever he was scheduled to preach at main campus taifa hall or nairobi chapel during my campus days. quite philosophical contemporary christian dialogues that are to say the least stimulating. i will never forget how his first album ‘kweli itakuweka huru’ while he was a student at kenyatta university with his old time buddy douglas jiveti impacted my early church life. reuben and jiveti have this year released a nice christian reggae album ‘god’s reggae’. i hope and pray that god will give reuben strength to cope with the demise of mercy and strengthen his outreach programs.
may he too be consoled like he did to many during the august 98 nairobi terrorist attack when his song ‘cry the pain’ featured in his country album ‘never alone’ filled the airwaves. i long for that time prophesied when we will look at death and ask ‘death where is your sting and grave where is your victory?’ (another country – gospel country album). this track was in reflection to the death of a partner in ministry; brother ngumba.
it was touching to see such union across tribal boundaries (that our politicians use to hatefully divide us) and visual challenge when mercy (kikuyu) wedded reuben (luhya). later when reuben’s father in love went to be with the lord, reuben put together and sung a kikuyu album ‘unyite na guoko’ translated ‘hold my hand’ comprising mercy’s father favourite kikuyu hymns. mercy lived the theme of a prominent song in the album, ‘ngukinyukia o kahora njerekeire o matuini’ translated ‘i will steadily make my way to heaven’.
to his three daughters may the lord be with them as they face life without their loving mother in the spirit of his song ‘enda nasi’ (‘go with us lord’) featured in his album with sifa voices ‘ombi langu’ (my prayer). for reuben kigame may you be strong, consoled and have ‘amani moyoni’ mwako as you sung in your kiswahili hymn collection album ‘amani moyoni’.
as sad it is for kigame, his daughters, relatives, friends and those of us who have benefited spiritually from his ministry, am sure mercy kigame is sharing the glories of the land where there is ‘no setting sun’ just as reuben dedicated that album to his wife.
reuben has been a source of consolation and encouragement to many through his musical ministry with sifa voices (who brought us the popular church worship ‘wastahili bwana’). in addition, through his word of truth ministries and the newly launched 97.1 fish fm based in eldoret, he has touched many hearts. i never missed his sermons whenever he was scheduled to preach at main campus taifa hall or nairobi chapel during my campus days. quite philosophical contemporary christian dialogues that are to say the least stimulating. i will never forget how his first album ‘kweli itakuweka huru’ while he was a student at kenyatta university with his old time buddy douglas jiveti impacted my early church life. reuben and jiveti have this year released a nice christian reggae album ‘god’s reggae’. i hope and pray that god will give reuben strength to cope with the demise of mercy and strengthen his outreach programs.
may he too be consoled like he did to many during the august 98 nairobi terrorist attack when his song ‘cry the pain’ featured in his country album ‘never alone’ filled the airwaves. i long for that time prophesied when we will look at death and ask ‘death where is your sting and grave where is your victory?’ (another country – gospel country album). this track was in reflection to the death of a partner in ministry; brother ngumba.
it was touching to see such union across tribal boundaries (that our politicians use to hatefully divide us) and visual challenge when mercy (kikuyu) wedded reuben (luhya). later when reuben’s father in love went to be with the lord, reuben put together and sung a kikuyu album ‘unyite na guoko’ translated ‘hold my hand’ comprising mercy’s father favourite kikuyu hymns. mercy lived the theme of a prominent song in the album, ‘ngukinyukia o kahora njerekeire o matuini’ translated ‘i will steadily make my way to heaven’.
to his three daughters may the lord be with them as they face life without their loving mother in the spirit of his song ‘enda nasi’ (‘go with us lord’) featured in his album with sifa voices ‘ombi langu’ (my prayer). for reuben kigame may you be strong, consoled and have ‘amani moyoni’ mwako as you sung in your kiswahili hymn collection album ‘amani moyoni’.
as sad it is for kigame, his daughters, relatives, friends and those of us who have benefited spiritually from his ministry, am sure mercy kigame is sharing the glories of the land where there is ‘no setting sun’ just as reuben dedicated that album to his wife.
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23 comments:
That was quite a moving post JP. I did not know either of them Mercy or Reuben. However, we have to believe that the loving Father has a plan.
May He console you as your grief is renewed and may He also heal Reuben.
Be at peace.
thanks uaridi. we have to believe he has our best interests at heart even during periods of loss and grief.
Pole.
Heard the news when i was about to leave for Khartoum. Could not believe and still cant. But the Lord knows best and to the family,relatives and friends be encouraged in the Lord.
I and my pray to The Good To Give the Kigame's Courage and Patient During this Trying Moment.May He shower you all with His Unlimited
Grace That The Good Job Started it Grows Stronger that many will be Reached and would change and Decide to follow Christ.
Benedict
@kenyaanalyst - nishapoa
@benedict - thanks. all sympathies to kigame. god will see him through.
@JP, That was a really nice tribute.I too was shocked since we've interacted with Reuben in the ministry here in the states and knew of his deep love for his wife.Think of this, unlike so many of us who are attracted by the physical, he loved her for who she was because he could not see her and she loved him inspite of the fact that he was blind.That challenged me.Two years ago, Reuben and Bishop Kosgey were ministering at the annual KCF(www.kcfa.net) conference in Virginia and the thing that struck me was that, they were giants in the faith inspite of their physical handicaps(Bishop Kosgey is crippled and uses his hands to walk).I was challenged by the fact that God has made me whole and yet it so hard for me to give of myself to serve God. That conference changed me and I now look at people and serving God in a very different light.I mourned with my brother, but I am encouraged, in heaven, not only shall we be reunited, but he will get to see her for the first time and know that her beauty radiated from within and crowned her on the outside. God bless you all.
@anon - i agree with you, thats a perfect example of true love for both reuben and mercy. reuben has a strong inspiration to life despite the 'odds' he has faced in his life. i am sure this will make him much stronger. i have seen bishop kosgey on tele and its quite challenging to us who are whole and we never stop to think, appreciate and count our blessings. God bless you too.
Am distressed to read that Reuben Kigame has recently been visited by deep misfortune!!I've loved his moving releases including 'Neno Moja Nimetamani', 'You Are My Hiding Place', 'Bwana Ni Mchungaji Wangu', 'Fadhili Zake', 'Wastahili Bwana', 'ABBA Father'.
May he find eternal solace in the good Lord.
am so much depressed just because of our sister mercy.i will say this to reuben to be string coz you have always been my inspiration and my mentor,this albums have really changed my life "murule mubwoni"wastahili and many more.please let this message be an encuragement to you because you have been an encouragement to many.just know that you are always prayed for.be blessed always.
jossy
may the lord give u strength to go through the grief and uplift you in your human nature
Am a fun of Kigames music.
Not much I can say but Pole sana kwa msiba.
am sorry for reuben's family,but God has reason for it to happen.may the Almighty God wipe ur tears and may He give u all the courage.God has good plans for u.Take heart.
We know that Romans 8:28 know that all things work together for good to those who love God for who have been called according to his purpose.Being encouraged in the Lord for losing your Loved on..Psa 37:4-6) says Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.
Anonymous said...
We know that Romans 8:28 know that all things work together for good to those who love God for who have been called according to his purpose.Being encouraged in the Lord for losing your Loved on..Psa 37:4-6) says Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.
May God give your soul a perfect peace and joy that is beyond all understanding.
God bless.
Mimi nitaendelea kusema pole kwake Bw. Reuben Kigame na jamii wake; God gives and at the same time He takes when He deems right. We all owe our lives unto Him and as much as loss of a loved one is quite painful it must not be lost on us that God does understand pretty well "why that why now why on so and so?". Kigame is a man without eye-sight yet death visits his house to take away his best and immediate companion. Ndugu Kigame, it is not late to say "Pole" but I do know that you are a strong man of God; I urge you to live by the same might and faith that kept the biblical Job going when he was ravaged to a state of nothingness. May you have the strength to continue with the great ministry through music and preaching. I do know that God will continue blessing your house beyond your imagination. God talks to us through many ways and I do know that He has a message to the world through your house and family.
Many thanks, Much peace and God's blessings.
Chrisogonas Mc'Odhiambo'
email: chrisogonas@yahoo.com,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC
USA
Reuben Kigame and Reginald Oduor with their youth for christ ministry just sang songs me and I got born again. Now I am strong in Christ and strengthening others. Shocked by the loss of his wife.
For this cause I bow my knees unto the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
that He would grant you according to the riches of his in glory to be strengthened with might in the your inner man
that the annointing may dwell in your heart by faith; that ye beeing rooted and grounded in His love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breath the length, depth and height; and to commune with the love of christ which passeth knowledge, that you might be filled with thefullness of God.
My heart melted as the words in the tribute about kigame and his wife held me like a young kid walking with the mum. I am encouraged by his life and what he has because of God, surely we cannot quantify what it feels to be in Kigames shoes but all in all we are deeply moved and i stand with you kigame may the joy of God fill your heart even in this year of'07. God bless you.
Bro. Steve.Njau
May the almighty God bless the Kigames as they grief this great loss which has gravely affected so many of us. Only God knows what good can come out such a tragedy. It is not for us to determine when and how to move over to the next life, but when it happens this sudden, it chocks and huts so much. I pray that brother Kigame and his daughters will find peace and comfort through it all. May God restore their joy and creativity for which we have so much ejnoyed and benefited from. Personally, your style of singings, content of your music, the sincrely of it all gave me hope and peace in my life. I remeber the many times I played your tapes in the streets of Los Angeles and felt the lifting of my spirit. May God lift you even more in these hard times. God be with you na aendelee na kuwalinda daima.
Bwana Yesu Asifiwe watu wa Mungu. Sikuwa nafahamu haya yote mpaka leo hii wakati nimefungua tu website hii kwa bahati nzuri nilipokuwa nikitafuta nyimbo za kusikiliza kupitia YouTube, lol, Mungu ana makusudi na maisha yetu tena ana mpango kamili kwa kila kiumbe chake. Natoa pole sana kwa Ndg. Kigame lakini namwambia Mungu yu pamoja naye tena ajua taabu na msiba wake. Siku moja atafarijiwa, faraja isiyo na mwisho.
I have been trying to trace where our Brother R.Kigame went and it was actually today when i was searching i bumped on this blog. The season of weeping could be over for Kigame family and friends but just allow me to pass my condolence to him and family.Your have done incredible work around the world and may the Lord who reward His own graciuosly do it to you.Mercy departure was not only a loss to you but also to us. When i must met Kigame was in a convention where he talked about Apologetics and could not believe such convictions despite being blind.You have moved many hearts Kigame and God will show Himself strong on your behalf.
The following are my best collections from his albums
a)Wastahili Bwana
b)Ombi Langu
c)Another Country
d)Unyite na Guoko
e)Worthy Is The Lamb
Keep up the good fight Brother Kigame
I pray the God of all comfort will comfort our dear bro,even in this times.God knows all things before they even happen may He remember mercy even in Kigame's family.Him who have plans for all of us will guide you and be with you brother.Be of good courage the Lord sees.Your's sister in the Lord Millie from France