Misplaced Pages

Steven Kanumba
Born	Steven Charles Kanumba (1984-01-08)8 January 1984 Shinyanga, Shinyanga Region, Tanzania
Died	7 April 2012(2012-04-07) (aged 28) Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Cause of death	Brain concussion
Occupation(s)	Actor, singer, writer, director, producer, comedian
Notable work	Jahazi
Parents	Charles Kanumba (father) Flora Mutegoa (mother)

Steven Charles Kanumba (8 January 1984 – 7 April 2012) was a Tanzanian actor and director of Sukuma heritage, born in Shinyanga Region. Kanumba died in 2012 at the age of 28, for which actress Elizabeth Michael was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to two years in prison in November 2017. Over 30,000 people were estimated to have attended his funeral. He was described as "Tanzania's most popular film star", and appeared in Nollywood films.

Early life

Kanumba was born into a Sukuma family in the Shinyanga Region in Northern Tanzania. His father was Charles Kanumba and his mother was Flora Mutegoa. Kanumba had three older sisters. He began his studies at Bugoyi Primary School and continued with his secondary studies at Mwadui Secondary School, later transferring to Vosa Mission Secondary School. He joined Jitegemee High School for his high level education. He spoke three languages fluently: Swahili, Sukuma and English.

Career

Kanumba began acting in the 1990s in church productions. In 2002, he joined the theater group Kaole Arts Group. He appeared in the television soap operas Jahazi and Dira and made his film debut in Haviliki. In 2006 he met Nazz who gave him advice and further connections for his career. He appeared in Dar 2 Lagos (Part 1) (Part 2), a film by Mtitu Game that used both Tanzanian and Nigerian cast. He also appeared in the films She is My Sister, This Is It, and Love Gamble. In 2009, he was a special celebrity guest on Big Brother Africa 4.

In 2011, Kanumba was named an Oxfam GROW Ambassador. Shortly before his death he had been preparing for his first Hollywood film role, despite of he already being "Tanzania's most popular film star" and appeared in Nollywood films.

Death

Kanumba died after he fell in his bedroom on 7 April 2012, apparently from a head injury after falling and hitting his head on the wall. Elizabeth "Lulu" Michael, 17-year-old girlfriend at that time, was charged with manslaughter in connection with the death. Kanumba was taken unconscious to Muhimbili National Referral Hospital where he was declared dead. Michael was arrested and stayed in remand for almost a year for investigation. Later, the charges were amended to involuntary manslaughter.

In January 2013 Michael was granted bail. In October 2017 She testified to the High Court of Tanzania that after Kanumba confronted her, he took her to his room by force and starting beating her with a sword while he was intoxicated, she claimed that Kanumba fell down and hit his head while beating her with the sword. In 2017, Lulu was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for his death and sentenced to two years in prison. Her sentence was then changed from two years imprisonment to community services and she was released from jail on 12 May 2018, after serving at least a year in jail.

His funeral was attended by around 30,000 people including the first lady of Tanzania, Salma Kikwete, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Gharib Bilal, and the minister for culture and sport, Emmanuel Nchimbi. Kanumba was buried in Kinondoni Cemetery.

Filmography

Television

• Jahazi
• Dira
• Zizimo
• Tufani
• Sayari
• Taswira
• Gharika
• Baragumu

Film

Awards and nominations

References

1. ^ Songa wa Songa (9 April 2012). "Fresh revelations in Kanumba death probe". The Citizen Daily. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
2. "Tanzanian movie star jailed for death of famous lover". News24. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
3. "Lulu slapped with two-year jail term for killing Kanumba". Retrieved 17 August 2018.
4. ^ "Kanumba funeral: Thousands mourn Tanzanian actor". BBC News. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
5. "Biography". Retrieved 10 April 2012.
6. Dar to Lagos Full Movie (Mercy Johnson & Steven Kanumba), 18 August 2017, retrieved 9 June 2022
7. Dar 2 Lagos Part 2 - Mercy Johnsons & Steven Kanumba (Official Bongo Movie), 29 October 2018, retrieved 9 June 2022
8. ^ Saur, Mahir; et al. (2010). Viewing African Cinema in the Twenty-First Century: Art Films and the Nollywood Video Revolution. Ohio University Press. p. 86. ISBN 9780821419311.
9. "Steven Kanumba on Oxfam's GROW campaign in Tanzania". Oxfam East Africa. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
10. "Fresh revelations in Kanumba death probe - News". The Citizen. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
11. "State lines up 9 witnesses in Lulu manslaughter case". The Citizen. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
12. Jared, Too. "Tanzania actress Lulu Elizabeth slapped with two year jail term for killing bongo star Steven Kanumba". Standard Digital News. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
13. VIDEO-Lulu aachiwa 'huru' Dar, retrieved 12 February 2020
14. "Farewell Kanumba The Great: Photos from the escort and final mass at Leaders Club". Bongo 5. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
15. Kanumba laid to rest, Mohammed Ugasa, 11 April 2012

External links

• Steven Kanumba at IMDb

• Tanzanian male film actors
• 1984 births
• 2012 deaths
• Deaths from falls
• Tanzanian filmmakers
• Tanzanian film directors
• Tanzanian screenwriters
• Manslaughter victims
• Sukuma
• Male screenwriters
• 21st-century Tanzanian actors
• Tanzanian actors