Angela Chibalonza Runiga, widely known as Esther Chibalonza, was a popular gospel singer born on November 26, 1976, in Bukavu, eastern Congo-Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo). She grew up in a Christian family with ten siblings, enjoying music from childhood and singing in a church choir since 1992, when she became a Christian at the age of 15. After completing secondary school in 1996, she moved to Kenya the following year to pursue her music career, having not recorded any music in her native Congo. Her relocation was driven by her faith and commitment to serving God.
Upon moving to Nairobi, Kenya, Chibalonza swiftly began her recording career, releasing her debut album, Nikuabudu, followed by Jina la Yesu in 1998, which was a major catalyst for her fame in East and Central Africa. She continued to release popular albums, including Mwisho wa Dunia (1999) and Ninapotembea. Her music, which she primarily sang in Kiswahili, Lingala, and sometimes French, was a rich fusion of Congolese and Kenyan gospel sounds. Her rich vocals and powerful live performances earned her a large fan base across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Congo, and other parts of Africa. Her talent gained public recognition when she was nominated for the Kora All Africa Music Awards in 2004 for Best Gospel Female Artist for the song "Jubilee" from her Yahwe Uhimidiwe album.
Chibalonza married Pastor Elisha Muliri in 2003, and they had one daughter named Glory Wonder Chibalonza Muliri. Despite her success, she remained committed to her mission of spreading the gospel. Tragically, her successful career was cut short on September 22, 2007, when she, her driver, and a vocalist perished in a fatal road accident at Kinale, on the Naivasha-Nairobi highway, while returning from a performance. She died just before the planned launch of her latest album, Nimekutana na Yesu (I have Met With Jesus). Her death at the age of 30 was a shock to her fans, but her legacy as one of the region's most influential gospel artists lives on through her music.