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Obituary: Singer Andi Meriem Matalatta dies at 53
Singer Andi Meriem Matalatta, known as “The Pearl from the South”, passed away in the Netherlands on Friday evening at the age of 53
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inger Andi Meriem Matalatta, known as “The Pearl from the South”, passed away in the Netherlands on Friday evening at the age of 53.
The 1980s singer had been on vacation in The Hague with her daughter, Herly Merdania, for the last two days.
Meriem died from complications — believed to be triggered by a wound on her hand that had become gangrenous and was exacerbated by her high blood sugar level — after being briefly treated at Lange Land Ziekenhuis Hospital in Zoocetemeer.
Her sister, Andi Farida Mattalatta, said the family and Indonesian Embassy officials were working to bring the body back home for burial. Her body is expected to arrive in Indonesia on Monday.
“We hope the process to bring her home goes smoothly,” she said at the family home in Sam Ratulangi area in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Saturday.
She said the family had not decided where she would be buried.
“The family wants her buried in the family cemetery in Barru regency, close to the graves of our father and mother. But it will be up to Dania, her daughter. Hopefully, she agrees with our plan,” Farida said.
The singer, whose full name was Andi Siti Meriem Nurul Kusumawardani, left for the Netherlands on Wednesday for a holiday with her daughter. Farida said that before leaving, Meriam was in a healthy state.
“When a relative called with the news that she had passed away, we were shocked as Meriem had no serious illness,” she said.
Music critic Bens Leo said the Indonesian music scene had suffered a great loss with the death.
“Meriam was a multitalented singer, like Hetty Koes Endang. She launched her career at festivals, making her a real singer. We’re going to miss her,” he said.
