‘Thank you so much for existing’

KEDIBONE MODISE

FAMILY, close friends and colleagues came out in their numbers to honour and celebrate the life of actor, radio and TV personality Lumko “Johnson” Leqela at an emotional memorial service, held at the Market Theatre last month.

Grief-stricken, each speaker at the memorial service shared fond memories of Leqele while also sending their heartfelt messages to the family.

A friend and colleague Keletso Bonolo Modiba, popularly known as Lula Odiba, shared her love letter to Leqele, which she wrote shortly after news of their death broke.

“My love, I’m going to miss you so much. It’s not kike you to leave the party early. I’m so gutted at your departure,” said Modiba.

“We met in 2020 … you walked very fast and you didn’t say much And then we got to connect when I stood in for the show that you produced. You intimidated me a lot. You always intimidated me with your large energy and over the last two years, we moved closer and closer.

“I got to see how huge you are. A lot of people that are here today, I met through Lumko and now we have the most amazing relationship, I want to thank them for that as well.

“I loved how smart, thoughtful, charismatic, opinionated, and how strong they were.

“My heart aches that I can’t tell you I love you again Lumkeezi. I’m broken at the fact that I will never hear you say ‘good job miss Lula’ to me again, which didn’t happen often because Lumko was very hard on me … always told me, you are the Sh**, don’t doubt yourself.

“I missed Lumko even before you left because they were supposed to continue with ‘The Night Cap’.

“Thank you so much for existing. Johnson. Half of the ‘The Nightcap’ is gone. I hardly know how to move forward from here,” said the award-winning presenter.

Actor, radio and TV personality Lumko ‘Johnson’ Leqela

(29 October 1989 - 14 September 2022)