IN a somber ceremony filled with tears and heartfelt tributes, the three eldest daughters of the late Zambian music icon Wesley Chibambo, popularly known as Dandy Krazy, stood bravely to honour their father’s memory.
The legendary musician, who passed away after a tragic road accident on January 2, this year, was remembered not only as a talented artiste but also as a loving father whose presence shaped the lives of his children.
While many Zambians only knew Dandy to have been a father of five, four beautiful daughters and a son, he was also a grandfather to one.
This was revealed yesterday during his funeral service at the Lusaka Show Grounds.
Comfort Chibambo, the firstborn daughter, opened the family’s tributes with an emotional speech that captured the pain and responsibility she now shoulders in her father’s absence.
“Even in your death, we will always love and appreciate you, and I promise that I will make you proud together with my siblings,” Comfort said.
Reflecting on her dreams of a future that now feels incomplete, Comfort shared her longing for her father to walk her down the aisle and perform at her wedding.
“Daddy, as your first child, I would always imagine you walking me down the aisle. I would even tell my siblings that on that day, you would perform along with your friends. But daddy, your friends have come to accompany you at your funeral instead,” she emotionally added.
Despite her grief, Comfort vowed to remain strong for her siblings and to honour her father’s legacy.
“I’m standing boldly for the sake of my siblings and our mother. You have left an emptiness in our hearts, but I will always be here for them,” said Comfort.
Towela Chibambo, the second daughter, offered her own tribute, as she remembered the bond she shared with her father and the values he instilled in her.
“From the time I met you, and from the time I realised you were my father, I thought we never shared a strong bond, simply because you were busy with work trying to make our lives better,” Towela shared.
She went on to describe her father as a man of remarkable character, whose strength, honesty, and dedication inspired everyone who knew him.
“Beyond the role of a father, my dad was a man of remarkable character. He valued honesty, hard work, and the simple joys of life. Whether he was working tirelessly to provide for us or teaching us life lessons, he believed in doing what was right, even when it was difficult,” she said.
Though she mourned the loss of her father’s physical presence, Towela expressed confidence that his legacy would live on through the values he instilled in his children.
“Even though he is no longer with us, my father’s legacy will live on in the values he taught us and the lessons he gave,” she said.
The youngest of the three speakers, Shekinah Chibambo, shared how she had a unique bond with her father.
“To my late father Wesley Chibambo, he was not only my father but also my friend. My father was kind, funny, and entertaining. He taught us the ways of life and was the best father one could ever ask for.”
Shekinah’s grief was compounded by the fact that her birthday now coincides with the day her father passed away.
“Your death brought me pain. You have a special place in my heart. I will forever remember the day you died as my birthday and your death day,” she said.
The three daughters concluded their speeches with heartfelt promises to honour their father’s memory and keep his spirit alive in their hearts.
As the daughters of Dandy Krazy stood before the gathered crowd, of fans, friends, family and supporters of their late father, their tributes only painted a different picture of Dandy that Zambia had never seen or imagined.
They proved that Dandy never failed to be a present father to his children let alone be an absent grandfather despite of his showbiz lifestyle.
Pictures and Story by Buumba Mwitumwa
Kalemba January 7, 2025