Renowned Kenyan Poet Abdalla Mwasimba Passes on!

The Swahili literary world was yet again thrown into mourning Wednesday, following the death of legendary poet Abdalla Mwasimba aged 83.

His death occurred a few months after Ken Walibora, Abdalla Shamte and Euphrase Kezilihabi.

Mwasimba, who for close to 30 years revised Swahili poems for Taifa Leo, had been suffering from low blood pressure and diabetes.

His youngest son, Mwasimba Abdallah told the Nation that the poet died in his sleep at his granddaughter’s residence in Kaloleni, Nairobi.

Because of his prowess in poetry, he was the pioneer radio poems reciter in independent Kenya. When Kenya became a republic in 1964, he composed a poem Mzungu Kuniita Bwana (Whiteman calling me sir). He was happy and thanked God for enabling Kenya get its independence the British colonialists could now respect blacks.

When Kenya faced its biggest alcoholism menace, Mwasimba composed a poem targeting the youth titled ‘Nini faida ya pombe' (Why do people drink) and yet it causes hallucinations, accidents, fights and sometimes, bad behaviour.

He was awarded the Head of State Commendation (HSC) in 2015 for his role in popularising Kiswahili through poems, skits and plays. He was among Kiswahili scholars who coined many Kiswahili words during VoK days in a program that had Abdalla Baruwa, Jay Kitsao, Raya Timamy, John Habwe, and Clara Momanyi among others.

In 2004, the late Mwasimba produced a Swahili program on QTV called ‘Dunia Ina Mambo’.

Among high profile Kenyan writers who mourned his passing was Prof Iribe Mwangi, Prof. Swaleh Amiri, Mwl. Andrew Watuha, Prof. John Habwe Prof.Tom Olali,Prof. Kineene wa Mutiso and many others.

Prof. Keneene Wa Mutiso had the following to say:

Alikuwa rafiki yangu mkubwa, tangu nikiwa mdogo na aliniathiri pakubwa kwa uimbaji wake wa mashairi, hata nikawa nawatumbuiza kwa  kuwaghania mashairi yangu wageni waheshimika waliotutembelea katika shule ya Sekondari ya Kabarnet, Baringo. Alikuwa mcheshi, mpole na mwenye utu. Makiwa!

Tunaomba Mwenyezi mungu ampumzishe kwa amani