While the echoes of wonder ring strong, telling the tragic end of the king of laughter, Brighton SINKALA-53, captain in the comedy industry, champion in health promotion, architect of memorable events – tears linger in eyes of close and distant ties.
– truly a giant has fallen!
Most captains of industry dive into professional life knowing that in the evening, they free themselves and pack the day. For Brighton SINKALA, coupling passion and profession, made him carry his assignment everywhere, day and night. Like the old adage goes ‘A smile is a curve that makes things straight’
For Brighton SINKALA, every minute counted for laughter. He had so embraced his purpose in his voice; speaking or singing.
He discovered a niche, all else had to bow down to his primary purpose. If his mouth could allow the last chance to talk about his death, he would have obviously joked about his demise. Leaving the whole world laughing. At funerals, he lessened the burden for many people.
At weddings he promised nuptial bliss.
A great force in health promotion whose social mobilization skills couldn’t be matched. He rewrote health promotion messages to make sense thus appealing to an average person. The health literacy bid was to be fast accomplished with his contribution.
A comedian with distinction. If you sit with him at meat, you have no option but to respond in laughter at what he told the waiter or waitress, or prayer he offered.
Truly, he turned sad developments into humour. He touched many lives at first sight. Everyone needs a Bright.
He was blunt. Producing raw jokes, it could either injure you to laughter or laugh you to injury. Matter of choice. But passing the message across, he never failed.
A clown who knew his God. An evangelist who could simplify the gospel. One day during a lunch hour fellowship at Ndeke House, he was asked to prepare a sermon. Everyone was sure it’d turn into a comedy fellowship.
Yet he pungently spoke on the return of the prodigal son, giving a sobering challenge to everyone. I later commented, ‘this might be a sleeping giant evangelist…I pray you wake up!’ And he agreed with me.
Simple things mattered most. A man who seized the moment to celebrate wins, gains and avail himself during grief. He made dark days bright. A happy birthday message, song, joke or act…was very important for him.
His emotional intelligence was radiant. His life conveyed the message ‘I’m not inferior to you’ so he made sure, he cracked jokes even of his on head. He earned the name ‘big head’ and gladly boasted about it.
A man of integrity. Ever met a comedian hard on scruples? Brighton was a professional comedian. Very principled in handling money. He regulated a lot of things. While he knew he was in the entertainment industry, he never let loose his ‘dos and donts’. Accusing him is possibly unfair.
A curious fellow, inquisitive mind. The brainy side of him, was the ability to learn swiftly and come up with his own application. He inquired about anything and was a reservoir of information and interpreter of occurrences.
Of many dialects, he spoke languages fluently and creatively. He had a good command of the English language. His Namwanga, Tonga, Bemba, Nyanja and others, where all mother tongues.
Carefully feeding, eating healthy and well. Mr Sinkala could eat anywhere, anytime but well regulated what entered his body. He was sometimes unpredictable. I guess lunch at Mulungushi International Conference Centre will never be the same. The table where he was sitting always gave a sweet taste.
A family man, who knew his head was comfortable. He was married to a beautiful, serious and decent lady. At first sight, one would think he didn’t deserve her but no, there’s a perfect match. Beautiful couple.
More paragraphs on how one single man made his country a stage. Touching the young and old. Giving life knowing there’s death. Farewell Brighton SINKALA!
By Andrew H Phiri
@Zambia Reports