By Durell Namasani
As the nation prepares to lay Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Director General Brian Banda to rest on Monday, American-based Malawian rapper and social media influencer Jolly Bro, popularly known as JB, has urged the late broadcaster’s family to conduct a private autopsy before burial to establish the real circumstances surrounding his sudden death.
In a Facebook post that has since attracted over 1,000 reactions, JB wrote in a mixture of English and Chichewa: “CHONDE AKUBANJA! OSALOLA THUPI LA MALEMU BRIAN BANDA KULOWA M’MANDA OPANDA KUPANGA PRIVATE AUTOPSY” — urging the family not to let Banda’s body be buried without a private post-mortem examination.
The rapper’s call comes barely 48 hours after Banda’s death was announced. The MBC director general passed away on Saturday at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre following a short illness. He was 47.
JB, who had a personal connection with Banda, previously recounted how the broadcaster had personally called to congratulate him after the elections. His Facebook post reflected the disbelief shared by many Malawians. “Pano akuti watisiya???” JB had written earlier — “Now they say he has left us?”
The funeral programme released by MBC indicates that Banda’s remains will be taken from Mthunzi Mortuary at 11am on Sunday to Word of Faith Church in Chilobwe, Blantyre, for a church service. He will be laid to rest on Monday at M’banda Village in Chileka, a few kilometres after Bakili Muluzi International Airport.
JB’s autopsy call has ignited debate on social media, with some commentators questioning the speed of the funeral arrangements. One Facebook user, Hanneck Manili, commented: “Actually, you are right. Why are they rushing things? Something needs to be investigated. And Brian was not only a loved media personality, he was loved by many. The way his funeral is being planned… Some of his friends may be in Zambia, Tanzania, South Africa and may wish to say goodbye to him”.
The call for a private autopsy adds a new layer to the national mourning, as Malawians continue to grapple with the sudden loss of one of the country’s most respected media figures.
This is a developing story.
