SA: Ray Phiri loses battle with cancer

News about Phiri’s death comes about a week after South Africans bid farewell to veteran jazz musician and educator Dr Ramakgobotla ‘Johnny’ Mekoa, who died at his Johannesburg home on 4 July.

“Ray has been bad for the past few days,” family spokesperson Paul Nkanyane said. “I spoke to him on Monday and he was struggling but unfortunately there was nothing we could have done. The doctors say they tried all that they could to help him out."

Nkanyane said Phiri was surrounded by family and friends at the time of his death.  

Phiri’s illness made headlines when his long-time colleague Richard Mitchell shared a post on social media early this week. According to Mitchell’s post, the singer had been financially unstable and in need of money. “Please help by donating funds, as he has exhausted all his private funds,” the post read. The post was then taken down after Phiri’s family became seemingly displeased that his health status had been made public.

According to local media, Mitchell’s call prompted one of Phiri’s close friends, whose name is still unknown, to start a crowdfunding initiative to support the musician. The initiative was later shut down at the request of the family and only accumulated about R3 000 of its R50 000 goal.

News about Phiri’s death flooded the internet, radio and TV on Wednesday, with South Africans from all walks of life offering their condolences.

"He was a musical giant. This is indeed a huge loss for South Africa and the music industry as a whole," President Jacob Zuma said in a statement.

The SAMRO Foundation wrote on Twitter: “We are saddened to learn of the passing of the legendary ntate [elder] Ray Phiri. All of us at SAMRO are thinking of his family and friends.”

BET Africa wrote: “What a loss! Rest in Peace, Ray Phiri. Through your music, you never missed a beat. May it live on forever.”

South African Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa also paid tribute to the late singer. “We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of a jazz legend and a one-of-a-kind musician, ntate Ray Phiri,” he wrote on Twitter.

Phiri was billed to perform at the Rocking the Daisies festival later this year. “We will host a tribute to Ray at this year’s Rocking the Daisies as a celebration of his life and recognition to his contribution to the music industry,” the organisers of the Western Cape festival said.

Born on 23 March 1947, Phiri began his musical career with Jabuva Queens in the late 1960s before co-founding instrumental band the Cannibals. Phiri then started Stimela, a group that helped him earn gold- and platinum-selling albums such as Fire, Passion and Ecstasy (1991), Look, Listen and Decide (1992) and People Don't Talk So Let's Talk.

In the mid-1980s Phiri collaborated with US musician Paul Simon on the Graceland album and tour, a bittersweet memory for the South African guitarist. “Graceland is a place of pain,” Phiri told Music In Africa during his final interview before being hospitalised. “Too many controversies, too many lies, too many shenanigans. The truth will come out someday.”  

With a music career spanning more than five decades, Phiri’s musical genius captured the hearts of many South Africans. Even younger generations of South Africans have been exposed to Phiri’s music through songs such as rapper Young Nations’ rendition of ‘Zwakala’, which was also used as the theme song for the popular South African TV series Zone 14.

Phiri was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the South African Music Awards (SAMAs) in 2012. He was also awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver for his contribution to music in South Africa.