Kekelwa Noliya Nyaywa-Dall

Devout Christian, Loving Mother and Grandmother, Distinguished Author Kekelwa Noliya Nyaywa-Dall departed this life for eternal rest on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at the age of 82. She was born in Livingstone, Zambia and spent much of her life residing around the world with her family, most recently as a long-time resident of River Ridge, Louisiana. Kekelwa was a devout Christian, loving mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt as well as a passionate and accomplished writer. Her engaging books, poetry, and short stories have been published in Zambia, the United States, and across the globe. Kekelwa was a proud alumna of Chipembi Girls Secondary School.(Zambia) and held a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History from University of London (UK), a Masters in Social Science (MSS) from Florida State University (USA) and a diploma in Industrial Projects Analysis from Bradford University (UK). She traveled widely when she was a shipping manager for an import and export corporation (London, UK); consultant for the United Nations Children's Fund (New York, USA) and as a consultant for the World Bank (Washington, DC, USA). She was an accomplished writer, author of poetry and an engaging series of novels and short stories published by the East African Educational Publishers Ltd. (Nairobi, Kenya). Her books include Hearthstones (1995) which was nominated for the 1997 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award; The Plague at My Door (1996); Beacons of Light (2013); Under the Fig Tree (2016); The Reunion (2020) and New Beginnings (2024). A poem she wrote, “The Rat Race,” was selected by the North American Open Poetry Contest to be published in the book, A view from the Edge through The National Library of Poetry (1992). Kekelwa was widely traveled and also resided in Lusaka (Zambia), London (UK), Tallahassee, Florida (USA), Lima (Peru), Arlington, Massachusetts (USA), Scarsdale, New York (USA), Amman (Jordan) and Fairfax, Virginia (USA). She was a polyglot who was fluent in English, Spanish, and several Zambian languages including her native Lozi, Tonga, Bemba, Nyanja, and Lenje. She was also conversant in Arabic. Kekelwa leaves four children to cherish her memory: Mr. Chipo Mulala (Zambia); Dr. Sasha Dall (UK), Dr. Liseli Mulala (San Francisco, CA) and Ms. Tania Dall (New Orleans, LA, USA); a beloved granddaughter, Ms. Linanni Kekelwa Simpson (San Francisco, CA, USA); sister, Mrs. Kuwabo Mbangweta (Zambia); son-in-law, Dr. Henrick Karoliszyn (New Orleans, LA, USA) and a host of In-Laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends around the world who will honor her memory. She is also survived by her ex-husband, Frank Dall. Kekelwa is preceded in death by her late husband, Mr. Aggrey Mulala; her parents, Mrs. Liseli Imusho Nyaywa and Mr. Mushokabanji Nyaywa; her brothers, Mr. Joseph Nyaywa, Dr. Samuel Nyaywa, Mr. Steven Nyaywa, Mr. Munkunyandela Nyaywa, Mr. Mainga Nyaywa, Mr. Situmbeko Nyaywa, and Mr. Mulele Nyaywa. Kekelwa was a dedicated parishioner of the Vineyard New Orleans Church Family. In the United States, relatives and friends are invited to attend the Visitation and Funeral on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Vineyard New Orleans Church, 4340 Sal Lentini Parkway, Kenner, LA 70065. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. A Funeral Service to follow beginning at 11:00 a.m. Interment for immediate family and close friends will be at Jefferson Memorial Gardens, 11316 River Road, St. Rose, LA, 70087, USA. Additional services will be held for Kekelwa Noliya Nyaywa-Dall in various locations beginning with a Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday June 14th at 13:00 at UCZ Trinity Congregation in Lusaka Zambia followed by a reception at Rose J Gardens in Ibex Hill. A Final Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held at Temple United Methodist Church, 65 Beverly Street , San Francisco California 94132 on Saturday July 19, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a reception to follow at the church from 4-5 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Zambian Orphans of Aids (ZOA-UK): https://zoa.org.uk/o or directly to the family to put towards funeral expenses. Arrangements by L.A. Muhleisen & Son Funeral Home. To share memories or condolences, please visit www.muhleisen.com.

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Kekelwa Noliya Nyaywa-Dall

August 3, 1942 - June 3, 2025