Veteran Arakanese singer dead at 50

By DMG 05 Nov 2022

DMG Newsroom
5 November 2022, Minbya

The veteran Arakanese vocalist Khaing Pyi Kyaw died unexpectedly at Minbya Hospital on Friday night. He was 50 years old.

The singer lived in Yangon and had travelled to Arakan State to perform at a concert in Arakan State’s Ramree Township. He was hospitalised after falling ill on Thursday and died the following day, his niece Ma Khin Hsu Mon told DMG.

“He was admitted to Minbya Hospital at 5 p.m. on Thursday, and he died of gastric haemorrhage,” she said.

“My heart is broken as if a star has fallen,” fellow Arakanese singer U Maung Thein said of the untimely passing of Khaing Pyi Kyaw, whose musical career spanned more than two decades. “I believe the community of artists and his fans will also be sad. He contributed a lot to Arakan State with his musical talent.”

Arakanese artists and Khaing Pyi Kyaw’s fans on Saturday took to social media to express their condolences.

“I phoned him recently, and I couldn’t have imagined that it was my last conversation with him,” singer Yee Hline Pyar wrote on her Facebook page. “He has left us behind. May you achieve better status in your next life, as you were kind-hearted to all and brought people joy through your music.”

Arakanese composer U Kyaw Than said the sudden death of Khaing Pyi Kyaw was a loss for Arakan State’s music industry.

“He worked actively, together with me and fellow musicians, for the development of mono audio in Arakan. We are very sorry that he died at such a young age,” he said.

A native of Kin Seik Village in Minbya Township, Khaing Pyi Kyaw made a name for himself with his hit solo album “Arakanese Orchid, King of Flowers”.

His funeral will be held at the Minbya Township cemetery at 1 p.m. on Sunday.