Greeff Properties Choices, Top of the Times -Today
HEARTBROKEN: Gentle Phiri is comforted by her brother Pholo as the children of jazz legend Ray Phiri paid tribute to their father during an emotional memorial service attended by thousands of people at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, yesterday.
AN emotional but celebratory mood engulfed the Mbombela Stadium yesterday where friends, family and industry colleagues came to bid farewell to their brother, teacher, friend and colleague, they simply called Bra Ray.
Thousands attended the memorial service of the legendary musician Ray Phiri who died a week ago in his home town of Nelspruit following a long battle with lung cancer. He was 70.
His children, Pholo and Lentle Phiri, paid him a touching tribute, describing him as a loving father, who was also a disciplinarian.
“Our father would always say to us ‘shut up and listen’, meaning we should speak when are spoken to,” Lentle told mourners.
“He never stopped loving and caring for us.
“The one thing he loved in the world was his children. He left us with a legacy.”
She said despite having differences with her father, she’s always known that he cared about her.
“He raised me to be a better person, we thank him for raising us to be better people.”
Phiri’s son, Pholo, took to the podium and echoed Lentle’s sentiments, and said he was involved in a few arguments with his father when he was younger.
“When you’re young you think you know it all and during that time we fought a lot and he would say to me that I should slow down, but we argued and I grew up and understood that he only wanted the best for me.”
He acknowledged that they had massive shoes to fill, but said they would try their best.
“I think he would have liked me to close the gap, but his shoes are too big for me to fill, but I will try for the sake of the family.”
Those in attendance heard that Phiri wanted to study towards conquering the world with his music.
From a young age, Phiri had an affinity for music and was taught how to play the guitar by his father.
Some of the people who gathered to remember the legend included ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu, former Mpumalanga premier Mathews Phosa, his wife and MP Pinky, members of his band Stimela, and MECs from the Mpumalanga provincial government.
Stimela took the audience down memory lane, performing renditions of timeless songs, including Zwakala, Where Did We Go Wrong and Phinda Mzala.
Phiri’s sister, Landile,spoke about her brother’s antics as a child and the cooking lessons he received from their father.
“Our father taught him how to cook and he also taught him how to play the guitar.
“That’s where his passion for music started,” Landile added.
Phiri will be given an official Provincial Funeral set to take place tomorrow at Mbombela Stadium at 10am.