Music great dies

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday 29th December 2011

Story by SALLY POKITON
UPNG journalism student

ANTHONY Soru Subam, the head of University of Papua New Guinea creative arts music section, a pioneer advocate of local contemporary music and a founding member of the famous Sanguma band, has died.
Subam, in his mid-50s, died at the Paradise Private Hospital on Sunday after a short illness. He had been rushed to hospital by his colleagues.
Subam, of Kairuru Island, in East Sepik and Yabob, in Madang, was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital  around 7.45am.
A post-mortem examination is yet to be conducted.
Barleyde Katit, a colleague of Subam, said he was ill for a week but had not taken proper medication although he showed symptoms of malaria.
“He was sick on and off for a week but did not take proper medication until Sunday morning when we rushed him to the hospital between 7.45 and 8am only to have doctors pronounce him dead on arrival,” Katit said.
Subam was a pioneer student of the creative arts and a member of the eight-man Sanguma band formed in 1978.
Other band members included Sebastian Miyoni, Thomas Komboi, Raymond Hakena, Buruka Tau, Aaron Murry, Apa Saun, Paul Yabo and Leonard Taligatus.
Subam had been engaged with the university’s creative arts strand from 2000 and was the head of the music section until his death.
He is survived by his two wives and five children.
The haus krai is at his home at the UPNG south campus (creative arts), next to the open campus area in Port Moresby.