Tony Ndiema’s brother reveals chilling words late Ohangla singer left behind
By Valerian Khakayi, September 2, 2026The family of late Ohangla singer Anton Okoth Ochieng, widely known as Tony Ndiema, has opened up about his final days, with his brother Mike Msella recalling lyrics that now appear to have carried a deeper meaning.
According to Msella, Ndiema had sung about death before his passing, words the family initially dismissed as part of his music but now view differently.
“Before death came, Tony Ndiema sang about it. Like he saw it coming. We thought it was just lyrics. Now we know it was his goodbye,” Msella said on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
The remarks have added an emotional layer to the mourning of the Ohangla singer, whose music earned him a following among fans of the popular Luo genre.
Msella also mourned his brother while reflecting on the loss of some of the music industry’s most distinctive voices.
“Wuod Okinyo, rest among the greats. Your voice will stay with us, just like theirs did,” he said.
“It’s a painful pattern. The most unique voices, the best artists, are always taken when we need them most. They left a mark that death could never erase. And now you have joined them.”
Ndiema’s death
Ndiema died on Tuesday, June 30,2026 and was laid to rest on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at his ancestral home in Omoche Village, Gem Asumbi, Rangwe Constituency, Homa Bay County, where family, friends and mourners gathered to bid him farewell.
His death marked a major loss to the Ohangla music scene, with his family and fans left to remember him through the music and legacy he left behind.
For his brother, however, some of Ndiema’s own words now carry a different weight.
What was once heard simply as lyrics has, in the wake of his death, become a poignant reminder of the singer’s presence, artistry and the mark he left on those who knew and listened to him.
Tony Ndiema was celebrated for blending traditional Ohangla rhythms with modern influences, earning him a loyal fan base across the country.
His death sparked an outpouring of tributes from fellow musicians, fans and leaders, who remembered him for his talent and contribution to the growth of Ohangla music.