Popular Ukambani celebrity photographer Charles Masillah dies
By Steve Ireri, September 14, 2026Popular Ukambani celebrity photographer Charles Masillah has died, leaving artistes and media personalities in the region mourning the sudden loss of a photographer who spent years documenting the lives and careers of personalities in the Kamba entertainment scene.
Masillah’s demise was confirmed by Kamba Benga artiste Toby Bisengo on Sunday, September 13, 2026, who mourned his long-time photographer while revealing that Masillah had privately battled struggles that he rarely spoke about.
Bisengo described Masillah as his long-time photographer and shared a photograph that the deceased had taken of him about a month before his death, making the image an especially poignant reminder of their long-standing working relationship.
“I am saddened by the sudden loss of my long-time photographer Charlie Masillah. That’s the last snap he shot for me a month earlier,” Bisengo wrote.
The artiste also opened up about the private side of Masillah’s life, describing him as a deeply reserved person who rarely spoke about the difficulties he was facing.
Bisengo said Masillah’s reluctance to open up about his struggles contributed to him experiencing periods of deep depression, before he also turned to drinking.
“A very closed-off guy, he rarely opened up about his struggles, which much contributed to him mostly being in deep depressions and turning to drinking, and it’s sad. RIP Masila,” he wrote.
The revelation has given Masillah’s sudden death an even more painful dimension, with Bisengo suggesting that some of the battles the photographer was facing remained largely hidden from those around him.
The artiste also used Masillah’s death to send a wider message to men, urging them to become more willing to speak about the difficulties they are experiencing rather than carrying their struggles silently.
“Men, let’s learn to open up,” Bisengo wrote.
Masillah’s death has also drawn an emotional response from popular Kamba media personality Katumbi, who expressed disbelief at how suddenly a familiar face could disappear.
Katumbi reflected on the unpredictability of life, noting that people can spend an ordinary day with someone before receiving devastating news of their death the following morning.
“Aki hii maisha. Unashinda na mtu vizuri, alafu unaamka unaskia eti he is no more. Mungu tuhepushe na hizi deaths za tukiwa young,” Katumbi wrote.
The media personality ended his tribute by bidding Masillah farewell and remembering him with a message of peace.
“Rest in Peace Charles,” Katumbi wrote.