Mashadi : Mr Ray Chikapa Phiri
Chikapa: My Daa-ling! MyShadi
Mashadi: Chikapa. How are you?
Chikapa: I'm talking to you. Life is good! Talk to me Shadi...
Eight years ago, on a hot Polokwane afternoon I met Chikapa. It was a Saturday. I was 26 years old and didn't think too much about the future. I couldn't have imagined that tomorrow would never be the same again. Tomorrow and today thereafter became the realest of fairy tales. I worked with Stimela, yes the whole band, I met them all. My task was to interview them and write short biographies about each member and then about Stimela itself. For two months of my young life, without a day off, I lived and breathed Stimela, Everything I know about Ray Phiri...he told me himself.
I too was surprised when the project finished and Chikapa kept in touch with me. He insisted that I stay. He said " Your heart is in the right place Shadi. Learn,lalela (listen), this is how Stimela works..." and this conversation went on until he could no longer come to the phone.
I am not able , at this point to talk about this extraordinary friendship. My feelings are untidy . I need to distill them first. Identify with them and then I will be able to express them. For now I'll tell you what I now about my friend:
Ray Chikapa
Phiri
Mashadi
Mathosa
He wore a round copper bracelet
A soft cotton T-shirt
Pageboy hat
Denim jeans and
Converse All Stars
He took his coffee black
And his tobacco strong
He loved a blended red wine
And his cognac on ice
He sat with his left leg crossed over his right
Sometimes with his chin in his hand
He nodded again and again in agreement
And pressed his lips together
He loved to look up
He joked with school boy charm
And laughed with teenage mischief
Breaking into a cough
Fisting his right hand
Arching his back
And laughing some more
And never forgot a thing
He loved listening to music
And knew all of it
Take your time!
Think!
Let’s Talk!
Lalela!
Take it easy!
Inspired
By Father,
Dancing marionettes,
By Love,
Life,
By you.
He bared his Soul
He left nothing unsaid
He belted out his feelings
He gave us all he had
Asked us questions and
Gave us the answers.
“I’m having fun”
The resident chef
The bottom-less pit of stories
The guitar strumming genius
Always left the party in full-swing
“Are you afraid to die?”
“No. Dying is a release”
“Why should I be afraid?”
"Don't be afraid Shadi"
"I've given you everything"
He is Frankie and he is Jonase
The dreamer
The master
The channel
The friend
The father
The lover
The superstar
He is the Highland Drifter
“I can see shooting stars writing my name”
Ray Chikapa Phiri
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| 2009 , At my parent's house in Turfloop |
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| Recommended for MyShadi, The art of loving. 2010, La Toscana Polokwane |
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| 2010, at the SABC Studios in Polokwane |
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| 2012 , at the ANC centenary celebration in Bloemfontein |
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| 2015, with our friend Lethabo at his home in Nelspruit. It was was the 12th of July. |
