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Famous singer-dancer (61) goes blind, collapses on stage and dies
08 Sep 2014 at 19:59hrs | Views
Famous singer/dancer (61) goes blind, collapses on stage and dies
Revels came to a standstill at Nkulumane's Airport Beer Garden on Sunday when a 61-year-old woman suddenly went blind and collapsed on stage while entertaining patrons.
Drunk patrons who were singing and dancing along with the 'energetic' performer, appeared sober when it dawned on them that the woman was dying on stage.
William Nyandoro, the programmes officer of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, identified the woman on his Facebook page as award winning Phathisa Nyoni of Iluba Lemvelo Dance Group.
Nyoni made her name with the Thandanani Women Ensemble, where she inspired many with her compelling vocals and imaginative dances.
Moses Nalube who was at the beer hall, told Bulawayo24 News that the woman came on stage to rapturous applause from patrons who knew her for her 'age defying dances.'
"Those who knew her said we were about to witness the show of a lifetime and we braced ourselves. I was disappointed when I saw a very big old woman coming on stage, however, I quickly changed my assessment when she leapt across the stage and gyrated her waist in a manner that would have left teenagers green with envy," said Nalube.
He said the woman had been on stage for hardly two minutes when she suddenly went down on her knees.
"The cheers grew louder and some people kept saying uzabona izimanga zakhona nxa sesukuma lapho (Watch out for wonders when she stands up). We began to suspect something was wrong when she keeled over and fell on her face. Group members rushed to her side as we sobered up," he said.
Nyoni was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital where she later died.
Condolences have been pouring in on Facebook with band members saying when they rushed to her side, she screamed that she could not see and she felt as if she was having a heart attack.
Although it is not yet clear what killed Nyoni, patrons at Airport Beer Garden are convinced it is Juju.
"It must have been jealous rivals who bewitched her," said a patron who declined to be named.
Mourners are gathered at 31539/9 Entumbane in Bulawayo.
Revels came to a standstill at Nkulumane's Airport Beer Garden on Sunday when a 61-year-old woman suddenly went blind and collapsed on stage while entertaining patrons.
Drunk patrons who were singing and dancing along with the 'energetic' performer, appeared sober when it dawned on them that the woman was dying on stage.
William Nyandoro, the programmes officer of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, identified the woman on his Facebook page as award winning Phathisa Nyoni of Iluba Lemvelo Dance Group.
Nyoni made her name with the Thandanani Women Ensemble, where she inspired many with her compelling vocals and imaginative dances.
Moses Nalube who was at the beer hall, told Bulawayo24 News that the woman came on stage to rapturous applause from patrons who knew her for her 'age defying dances.'
"Those who knew her said we were about to witness the show of a lifetime and we braced ourselves. I was disappointed when I saw a very big old woman coming on stage, however, I quickly changed my assessment when she leapt across the stage and gyrated her waist in a manner that would have left teenagers green with envy," said Nalube.
"The cheers grew louder and some people kept saying uzabona izimanga zakhona nxa sesukuma lapho (Watch out for wonders when she stands up). We began to suspect something was wrong when she keeled over and fell on her face. Group members rushed to her side as we sobered up," he said.
Nyoni was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital where she later died.
Condolences have been pouring in on Facebook with band members saying when they rushed to her side, she screamed that she could not see and she felt as if she was having a heart attack.
Although it is not yet clear what killed Nyoni, patrons at Airport Beer Garden are convinced it is Juju.
"It must have been jealous rivals who bewitched her," said a patron who declined to be named.
Mourners are gathered at 31539/9 Entumbane in Bulawayo.
Source - Byo24News
