Rwandan music star Benjamin Mugisha, popularly known as The Ben, has written an emotional letter to his father John Mbonimpa, who was laid to rest on August 23, at Rusororo cemetery. The Ben’s father passed away on August 18 from illness. Via his Instagram page that has over 794,000 followers, the singer shared a farewell letter expressing his gratitude, sorrow and love to his late father. “Dear Dad, as I hold this picture of you, you were young and wonderful. Those were the times all of us remember you as the best dad anyone could ask for, and I want to focus on those cherished memories right now! You were our guiding light, a source of strength and love. Your presence filled our lives with laughter, and your dedication to us was steady and firm.” “Born in exile, you overcame countless challenges to build a life for us. Your determination knew no bounds! your love shone brightly, and it's those memories that I choose to hold close to my heart.. Life took its toll on you, and you battled with demons that changed you in ways none of us could have predicted. Despite your struggles, I never stopped trying to reach out, to bring you back to the light. It hurt to see you pushed me away at times, but please know that I never gave up on you, just as you never gave up on us during your best dad years. “I just want you to know that I believe in the power of redemption. I believe that there's a chance for us to find peace and forgiveness, even in the face of our past challenges. I want to believe that you are in a better place now, free from the pain that haunted you in life. Dad, our family has chosen to remember the good times, the love, and the happiness you brought into our lives. We've found it in our hearts to forgive the mistakes and focus on the man who meant the world to us. As I Say goodbye, I hold on to the hope that somehow, somewhere, you can sense the love we still hold for you.. With love and gratitude bye Dad,” he posted. Mbonimpa is survived by six children, four boys and two girls. The singer’s brother Green P, who was among the Tuff Gang Rap crew, now staying in Dubai did not get a chance to make it to his father’s funeral however his close friends in Dubai organized a farewell event to comfort the rapper.
