RIP: List Of 13 Kenyan And International Celebrities We Lost In 2023

• Life is fickle, and the deaths of numerous Kenyan and international celebrities in 2023 proves it
• Some of the celebrities who passed away include Costa Titch, who collapsed and died on stage
• Closer home, Kenya lost Mombasa singer Ally B, gospel artiste Roseline Akinyi and Kunguru

From actors to singers, here’s a look at some of the most notable deaths of 2023.

Ally B

Born Ali Mwakaribu, the coast-based musician popularly known as Ally B died on November 1, 2023.

The mellow-voiced crooner best known for the Maria hit song died at Coast General Hospital after a short illness.

He was laid to rest on November 2 at Maziara ya Cobra cemetery in Mishomoroni, Mombasa county.

Zahara

Acclaimed South African singer and guitarist Zahara died on December 11, 2023, at a hospital in Johannesburg.

The Loliwe songbird succumbed to complications from liver disease. She was 36.

The singer will be laid to rest in her East London hometown on December 23, 2023, in the Eastern Cape.

Kunguru

Veteran musician Eric Onguru, popularly known as Kunguru, died on March 19, 2023. He was 44.

The Baby Don't Go hitmaker died at Nairobi Hospital while receiving treatment after a prolonged illness.

The singer was 44.

Tina Turner

Singer, songwriter and actress Tina Turner died on May 24, 2023, aged 83, after a long illness.

Tina Turner died at her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland.

Billed as the queen of rock 'n' roll, she is best remembered for her The Best and What's Love Got to Do With It hit songs.

Byron Kivisi

Gengetone producer Byron Kivisi, aka Byron Papi, died on September 20, 2023.

The Sipangwingwi producer died suddenly after suffering an arterial rupture.

Mohbad

Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba aka MohBad died in Lagos on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27.

Mohbad died in mysterious circumstances after being admitted to hospital with an ear infection.

His death led to outrage across Nigeria.

Kalenga Nzazi

Veteran Congolese singer and composer Kalenga Nzazi died on August 9, 2023.

The legendary Orchestre Les Mangelepa singer collapsed and died at his home in Nairobi.

He was laid at Langata cemetery in Nairobi.

Roseline Akinyi

The celebrated gospel singer popularly known as Damian died on Jul 26, 2023, aged 39.

The 'Ruoth in’gama nade' hit maker died at the Texas Cancer Centre in Nairobi after a brave battle with cancer.

Roger Whittaker

Kenyan-born British folk singer Roger Whittaker died on September 13, 2023, in Toulouse, Southern France.

The singer, best known for his 1982 hit song 'My Land is Kenya', died of complications following a long illness. He was 87.

Costa Titch

South African rapper Costa Titch died on March 11, 2023, in Johannesburg.

The 28-year-old rapper died after he collapsed onstage during a performance at Johannesburg's Ultra South Africa music festival.

Michael Gambon

Iconic actor Michael Gambon, best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, died on September 27, 2023.

He was 82.

The actor died following a bout of pneumonia.

Matthew Perry

Friends star Matthew Perry died at the age of 54 on October 28, 2023, at his home in Los Angeles, California.

Known for playing Chandler Bing on the sitcom, Perry was found unresponsive in the hot tub. His death was ruled as due to acute effects of ketamine.

Bray Wyatt

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star Bray Wyatt died on August 24, 2023, from a heart attack.

The wrestler, real name Windham Rotunda, had reportedly been dealing with an undisclosed health issue.

He was 36.