By Rahim Abdul

Veteran gospel musician Lloyd Phiri has taken to social media to share a heartfelt and deeply personal reflection about his life, music, faith and family urging Malawians to stop spreading false stories about him and instead seek the truth directly from him.

In his emotional post titled “Osandiyipitsila Mbiri Chonde, Lero Mudziwe Chomwe Ndiri” (Don’t Ruin My Name, Today Know Who I Am), Phiri began by reintroducing himself to fans who have long followed his music career.

The 45-year-old gospel artist said he received salvation back in 1997 when he was just 17 years old, marking the beginning of a spiritual and musical journey that would later inspire thousands across the nation.

Phiri revealed that his gift of music manifested early, leading to the release of his first album in 1999, which was widely embraced by listeners.

The song “Afuna Ulape” from that album became a nationwide hit, topping the MBC Entertainers of the Year competition without any form of self-promotion a true testament to its impact. “Back then, there were no calls for votes,” he said.

Since then, Phiri has produced nine albums  seven studio projects and two live recordings, establishing him as one of Malawi’s most consistent and respected gospel voices. But behind the music, he revealed, was a man who has endured both triumphs and deep personal struggles.

Reflecting on his family life, Phiri shared that he first married in 2006 at the age of 26 but the marriage unfortunately ended around 2012/13. From that union, he has one son named Junior.

After the separation, he chose to remain single for nine years, focusing on prayer, self-reflection and his relationship with God. During that time, he stepped back from performing and focused on sound engineering and producing music for others.

“Those years were not easy.There were questions, worries and frustrations. But through it all, I remained grounded in faith,”he wrote.

In 2022, grace found him again when he married Elinat Phiri, his current wife. The couple tied the knot on October 15, 2022, in Lilongwe and are now blessed with a two-year-old daughter named Amanda Happiness Phiri.

Phiri said his journey has not been without challenges. He has faced false rumors about his character, including claims that he has been married seven times, drinks alcohol or uses drugs allegations he firmly denies.

“It’s painful,when people believe lies and begin to insult or look down on me,”he said.

The artist emphasized that his continued faith and service to God are not by his own strength, but purely by grace. He appealed to his followers to pray for one another instead of spreading negativity.

“If you have questions,” why not ask me while I’m still alive?,” he concluded.

Through his candid message, Lloyd Phiri reminded Malawians that beyond the fame and music, he is a man of faith who has weathered storms, learned from pain and continues to stand firm in his calling.