Tribute to a gentleman

Moses Lamani passed away this week. Described as a gentle soul, he boasted an impressive knowledge of local history. Photo SUPPLIED

Staff at the Albany Museum paid tribute this week to Moses Lamani, a former Museum staffer who died this week.

He matriculated at Nathaniel Nyaluza High School and joined the Observatory Museum in the 1980s, working with Patricia Scott-Deetz, Dee Nash and Emily O’Meara.

Curator Emeritus at the mu- seum, Fleur Way-Jones, said Lamani had been a registered tour guide since the 1990s.

“He and the late Walter Panca were well known among tourists for their knowledge of the Camera Obscura and the Observatory Museum,” Way-Jones said.

Lamani appeared in a 2011 edition of Top Billing and costarred in the film Moses and Griffiths, by 2012 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner Mikhail Subotzky.

Former Observatory Museum curator Emily O’Meara said, “He had his own style of tour guiding. He was very knowledgeable about Grahamstown. He made that magic show come alive for thousands of people. He was a gentle soul, and a gentleman.”

Subotzky said, “I’ll never forget the first time I asked Moses to do his ‘personal’ tour, just me and him in that turret with no cameras and the small little spark that lit up his voice at the telling of his history.

“Moses was an insightful and enthusiastic collaborator on the film that I made with him and Griffiths Sokuyeka.

“I am saddened by his passing and send my condolences to his family.”