Over the course of the year, Africa lost a number of its illustrious sons and daughters. The loss started early in the year when a renown musician was announced dead – Hugh Masekela of South Africa.
Late in the year, Nigeria lost a former president in the person of Alhaji Shehu Shagari – its first executive president who incidentally was deposed by the current president Muhammadu Buhari.
In between Masekela and Shagari, there is the death of yet another former president, a strong anti-apartheid voice, a leading opposition chief in southern Africa and the biggest loss by a mile, the death of Kofi Annan.
As part of our 2018 Review, Africanews brings back briefs on the losses that hit the continent.
January: Hugh Masekela dies in Jo’burg
The legendary South African musician and song writer, Hugh Masekela died in Johannesburg at the age of 78, his family confirmed in a statement.
The statement of Tuesday January 23, 2018 said he died after a protracted fight against cancer. The celebrated jazz musician was born on April 4, 1939.
It hailed his legacy in diverse fields beyond his music and disclosed that details of his memorial and burial were being worked out.
April: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela passes
The South African anti-apartheid activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela died in April following a long illness, a family spokesman said.
“She died after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year,” Victor Dlamini said in a statement.
“She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones.”
She received a state funeral later that month which was very well attended by leaders and dignitaries from across the continent.
May: Afonso Dhlakama of Mozambique
Mozambique’s veteran rebel turned opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama died aged 65, party sources confirmed earlier this year.
Dhlakama’s Renamo party said at the time that he passed away after an unconfirmed heart attack, with local television stations also reporting the death.
For 39 years, Dhlakama led Renamo, the rebel group which fought a 16-year war against the ruling Frelimo party until 1992 and then emerged as an opposition party that still retained armed fighters.
He had been in hiding since 2013 in the remote Gorongosa mountains as sporadic conflict again erupted in the country. he had entered peace talks with President Nyusi in 2017 having announced a ceasefire in December 2016.
December: Ethiopia loses ex-president Girma Woldegiorgis
Former Ethiopian president Girma Woldegiorgis died on December 15, two weeks short of his 95th birthday, state media reported.
Girma was president of Ethiopia for twelve years between 2001 to 2013, a largely ceremonial role. His death was reported by the Ethiopia Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) and other state media.
The cause of death was not given. He was a fluent speaker in Ethiopia’s working language Amharic, his native language Afan Oromo as well as English and French.
His funeral and burial was held five days later at the Holy Trinity Cathedral located in the capital Addis Ababa. It was attended by President Sahle-Work Zewde, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other top government officials.
December: Nigeria’s first executive president dies in Abuja
The death of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Nigeria’s first executive president at the age of 93, was announced via Twitter by his grandson with three days to the New Year, 2019.
“I regret announcing the death of my grandfather, H.E Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who died right now after brief illness at the National hospital, Abuja,” Bello Shagari wrote.
Shagari is on record as the first executive president Nigeria had. He won elections in 1979 to become president under the banner of the National Party of Nigeria.
Incidentally incumbent democratically elected Muhammadu Buhari – then a military man as responsible for the overthrow of Shagari’s government.
