It is with a heavy heart that we report the loss of Negură Bunget founding member Gabriel “Negru” Mafa. He was the only original member left in the Romanian black/folk metal band, starting with 1996’s Zîrnindu-să to 2016’s Zi. Vocalist/guitarist Tibor Kati announced the news on his Facebook about Negru’s passing at the age of 42.

“With great grief in our souls, we inform you that our friend and colleague, Gabriel “Negru” Mafa, passed today, March 21st 2017, aged 42.
We deeply regret the death of the man who founded and maintained Negură Bunget, and who dedicated his life to the sacred side of our culture, bringing it to life through music and transmitting it to various generations from all over the world.
We hope that his legacy will continue to enchant and console those whom he left behind.
With regret and sadness, we offer our condolences to his family and to those who knew and cherished him in this life.”

No comments or updates were made from the band at this time.