Umar Lahbedi Issa, a Tanzanian comedian popularly known for his ‘kata simu’ viral video has passed away.
Umir was also known as Mzee wa Mjegeje by his Tanzanian fans.
His manager Real Jimmy confirmed reports about the comedian’s death on Wednesday, March 20, saying that he was receiving treatment at the Mwananyamala Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania at the time of his death.
However, the manager did not reveal the ailment that led to his demise.
His comical Swahili phrases set him apart from comedians in the industry and became an internet sensation in Kenya after his “Kata Simu Tupo Site” video went viral.
Also known as ‘Raisi wa Bagamoyo’, Umar was a resident of Bagamoyo in the Pwani region of Tanzania.
Also Read: Another Famous Content Creator Dies in Grisly Road Accident
The Life and Career of Kata Simu Comedian
In a past interview, Mzee Mjegeje said that his content was inspired by art, adding that he wanted to create content that appealed to his audience.
Additionally, he described himself as a business-minded person who wanted to earn from entrepreneurship. Before venturing into art, he owned a hotel in Tanzania which later failed.
He claimed that his employees envied the success of his business and hatched a scheme to bring his business down.
ADVERT
“I used to have a lot of wealth but through betrayal by friends and employees, they left in huge debts that left me in a state of the financial crisis,” he lamented.
“For three months, I would not leave the house due to debt collectors were looking for me,” he said during a past interview.
After his ‘kata simu’ fame, he was featured in several songs, working with several Tanzania artists including Harmonize and other notable celebrities.
Also Read: Autopsy Report Reveals Cause of Rita Tinina’s Death
Other Recent Celebrity Deaths
Earlier on March 18, Popular content creator Chogin Kale Comedian, known for his skits in the Kalenjin language, died in a grisly road accident in Bomet County.
Chogin was reported to have been travelling in a 14-seater matatu towards Bomet when the vehicle veered off the road and collided with a tractor at Silibwet, Bomet county.
Tiktoker Brian Chira was also confirmed dead on Saturday, March 16, 2024.
According to a police report, Chira alighted from a motorcycle and fled towards the main road, where he was struck by an oncoming vehicle, resulting in severe head injuries.
