Musicians pay tribute to Ray Phiri

Artists and industry professionals took turns to celebrate the life of Phiri, who was described as a father, activist, friend and teacher with a philosophical outlook on life.

Moments before the memorial service, the president of the South Africa Music Promoters Association, China Mpololo, told Music In Africa how he had met Phiri. “I have known Chikapa for more than 30 years when he used to come and perform in Cape Town where I was a poster boy,” he said. “I ended up promoting him and he referred to me as one of his sons. It’s very difficult to express how I feel about his death.”

Addressing the gathering, singer, music professor and historian Sibongile Khumalo credited Phiri for his contribution to the music industry. “We thank you for the music that you created,” she said. “You are lost to us in physical sense but your spirit leaves with us. Ray Phiri, we thank you for who you have been, for who you will continue to be. We thank you for what you will continue to remind us of. We thank you and your bandmates in Stimela. We thank you and your generation of musicians.”

Gospel musician Thinah Zungu said the music industry had lost a great mind. “It’s very sad to lose legends like Ray Phiri,” he said. “These are people who paved the way for us in the industry. Losing them is a disappointment because there is much we can learn from them.”

The co-organiser of the memorial service, Joe Chakela, said: “We really need Stimela as a band in our musical landscape. It’s my hope that the Department of Arts and Culture does something to preserve the works of these legends. Young musicians should impart the works of these legends before they die.”

Music promoter Sam Mhangwani also took the rostrum. “I want to express Ray as I knew him. He sang, he danced, he left us a legacy. We must remember him for what he was.”

Kwaito legend and former member of the Trompies, Eugene Mthethwa, said he was deeply saddened by the loss. “It’s the pain that we always feel when one of us passes on,” he said. “It’s like soldiers. When one soldier dies, they feel the pain. I feel even more pain.”

The musician-turned-politician also took time to acknowledge Phiri’s track record in the industry. “People like him die with so much information because they know our industry very well. He had the history of the SA industry at his fingertips – how it started and who was there at what time and with who. Phiri would tell you stories about most SA artists, dead and living. It’s the knowledge he had that was so important and it’s gone before he shared it with our youngsters.”

Founder and president of Native Rhythms Productions Dr Sipho Sithole said: “We need to contextualise Ray in the 1980s because this is where we find him and Stimela. People like Ray were at the forefront of making sure that the issue of oppression was addressed.”

Sithole also dismissed claims that Phiri was bankrupt at the time of his death. “I am seriously bothered by the fact that the media is saying that he died a pauper. We had just finished a tour of four festivals with Ray. He performed at the Africa Day music festival, Zakifo and Azgo. The last time I saw him, we were at Reunion Island at Sakifo Festival. Just for this tour, I left 250 000 rand ($20 000) with Ray and his family.”