On the road with Uncle John and Ausi Sonti to bury Ray Phiri (Pt II)
Friday, August 04, 2017
Ray Phiri performing in Gaborone in 2015 at the Hamptons Jazz Festival PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES
Then the mighty Franco Makiadia and his group OK Jazz came on tour. Other big names from Zaire including Johnny Bokello also came to Bulawayo and the young John hung around, watched, listened and learnt.
Surrounded by music, he was rapidly acquiring proficiency in his chosen instrument. Soon he outgrew the teenage band and joined his cousin who led the Golden Rhythm Crooners, a band that backed Dorothy Masuku.
It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...