the Longomba brothers, Christian Longomba, is dead.
Christian, who was once a member of the Longombas duet comprising of two brothers, died on Saturday, March 13 in Los Angeles, United States of America, his sister, Jessy Jones, said on Facebook.
Jones said Christian, who has been undergoing treatment for a recurrent brain tumor, succumbed to the complications a few minutes to 7pm East African Time. He had been admitted to a Los Angeles hospital.
The late artiste’s brother, Lovy, who completed the other half of the Longombas group, was at his bedside when he died, said Jessy Jones.
Lovy took to his Facebook page on Saturday night to confirm news of Christian’s demise.
“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. I love you Christian, my brother, my friend and partner, but Jesus loves you more. Enjoy heaven,” he wrote.
Gospel artiste Daddy Owen was among the first musicians in Kenya to mourn Christian.
Taking to his Facebook page on Saturday night, Daddy Owen said: “R.I.P Christian Longomba. This is just sad. This guy (Christian), his late mum and his brother @prophetlovy gave me most of my nicknames, from Papa Fololo and the rest… Oh no.”
On May 18, 2015, Christian Longomba suffered a seizure, leading to his hospitalisation. Paramedics rushed him to hospital where he was diagnosed with falx and parassagittal meningiomas.
According to his brother Lovy Longomba, neurosurgeons discovered a large tumor close to his sinuses.
“The doctors, after thorough tests, explained that the tumor had covered part of his parietal lobe and was mostly on the frontal lobe. After receiving his diagnosis, Christian launched into perhaps his most challenging endeavor – starting his journey in the treatment of his brain tumor,” said Lovy in 2015.
Some of Christian and Lovy Longombas’ chart-topping songs included: ‘Vuta Pumz’, ‘Dondosa’, ‘Piga Makofi’, ‘Queen’, ‘Usinihande’, ‘Shika More’, ‘Chukua’, among others
