Phiri’s freedom songs live on

UNGAHLEBI, Speak your mind. Don’t be afraid. Don’t whisper in the deep. Speak out your mind Stand up! Wake up! There’s still sleep right in your eye. Call me angry, call me mad. A soul that whispers in the deep. I’m inspired. But I can’t understand hate. This is a verse from a Ray Phiri composition called Although it was widely recognised as one of South Africa’s great jazz-funk songs, the old apartheid SABC didn’t like the lyrics – so they banned it.

But Phiri, who died on Wednesday from lung cancer, didn’t let this and other setbacks bother him. Hegot on with composing his next song, with the same, thoughtful insight as the previous one.

Like so many times before, Phiri didn’t hold back on the lyrics of his songs. It was this that made him great as a songwriter, a singer, a leader of a band – but, most especially, as a South African with a deep social conscience.

He was prepared to stand his ground against the dictates of the liberation groups as well as the authoritarianism of the apartheid rulers.

When the ANC tried to stop him, Hugh Masekela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the Mahotella Queens, Tony Cedras and others from collaborating with Paul Simon on the album, on the grounds that Simon was stealing South African music techniques, it was Phiri who spoke loudest declaring no one would stop him.

In paying tribute to Phiri shortly after his death, President Jacob Zuma said: “He was a musical giant. This is a huge loss for both South Africa and the world.”

The ANC described Phiri as an immensely gifted composer, vocalist and guitarist. “He breathed consciousness and agitated thoughts of freedom through his music,” it said.

As the cancer took its toll, Phiri pleaded: “Let me suffer pain on my own with dignity.” This week, he slipped into death, at the age of 70.

We will miss you, Ray. Hamba Kahle.