16/09/2026
May the soul of our brethren REST IN PEACE😥
🕊️ FUNERAL ANNOUNCEMENT
It is with deep sorrow that BLACK PRIDE EMPIRE™ (BPE AFRICA™) joins the family, friends, congregation, and the entire theatre fraternity in mourning the passing of Stonard Banda, who died yesterday at Chipata Level One Hospital.
The exact cause of his death remains unknown and has not yet been officially confirmed. There have been reports and eyewitness accounts suggesting that he may have been attacked, following the discovery of swelling around his neck. When he was found along the railway, However, these remain unconfirmed reports and assumptions, and we await official information.
Stonard Banda was more than a congregation leader. He was a dedicated artist, actor, mentor, and leader of THE ROCK DRAMA GROUP at St. Peter’s Congregation, United Church of Zambia (UCZ), in Garden Compound.
His love for young people and his commitment to the arts were unmistakable. When silence threatened to make the young people disappear, Stonard raised THE ROCK and gave them a place to belong, create, perform, and be seen.
He leaves behind a legacy built not only on faith and leadership, but also on theatre, mentorship, friendship, and service to the community.
Even in death, BLACK PRIDE EMPIRE™ mourns with his family, friends, St. Peter’s Congregation, THE ROCK DRAMA GROUP, the United Church of Zambia, and the entire Zambian theatre fraternity.
His stage may now be silent, but the lives he touched will continue to carry his story.
May his soul rest in eternal peace. 🕊️
BLACK PRIDE EMPIRE™
ROAR AND SOAR.
