The Stimela man did not come to sing, but there was a live band and a small crowd of really talented musicians around. There, also was the legendary guitarist John Selolwane. Later Ray and John kicked off a mini reminder of the Graceland Tour that the duo had with Paul Simon. Those who remembered the Graceland in Concert at Rufaro Stadium in 1987 grew nostalgic as the two guitarists from that epic tour gave us an intimate taste of the music they rocked Rufaro and the world with during the bloody years of the apartheid regime’s state of emergency. The Graceland Tour was controversial because initially both the apartheid and anti-apartheid activists disapproved it. It was held during the United Nations cultural boycott against South Africa and Paul Simon together with his 24 African member ensemble including one Motswana (John Selolwane) were seen as violators of the boycott. But I am getting ahead of myself.
Back at Megopong Hall in 2013, Ray Phiri took the microphone, not to sing, but to speak to the local musicians, promoters and music reporters. Other artists included Kapenta Katuta, Wynton Senwelo, Kabelo Tamukate, Shanti Lo, Nnunu Ramogotsi, Kearoma Rantao and Thulani Manana who is currently also battling cancer. There was Keletso Rakhudu who even though he was then a Cabinet minister, later jumped into the jam, now as Bra Kaiser on guitars and drums.
