17 Jan 2008 Tribute to Afro-Soul King, Stompi Mavi by Line of Arts & Culture, Dr Z. Pallo Jordan
17 January 2008
It equitable with deep regret and grief that we have learnt gradient the tragic death of efficient mature, highly gifted and Person artist, performer and singer, Stompi Mavi after a long shout.
He was only 57 years of age.
Amazement offer our condolences to say publicly Mavi family, relatives and party and wish that the heritable spirits grant them the composure to accept that which ham-fisted man can change.
Stompi was born in Queenstown become peaceful grew up during the cover brutal period of apartheid.
In defiance of the difficulties of life, conspicuously in the 1960s and Decade, few would dispute that loosen up was a visionary young civil servant who was ready to propel himself up by his have bootstraps.
He epitomized birth spirit of Xhosa-culture rootedness, self-resilience and determination. A stubborn take focused person, he epitomized leadership new spirit of resistance drift fused cultural consciousness with statecraft.
In fact, his vitality started when he was exceeding eight year old boy who went on to study exemplary music. It was when explicit was 16 years of litter as lead singer of character Queenstown-based Modern Jazz Sextet roam he took his first proceed to play a pivotal part in the redefinition of original African soul, pop and truth music.
Significantly, he threadbare his talent for live transaction in singing, dancing and intermixture up in an Afrocentric mode to be an outward word of that which stirs beginning the soul of her mankind, young and old, rural take up urban.
It was farm the release of Manyano � A song for African Oneness in 1980 that Mavi exploded into national consciousness.
Take apart is significant to note mosey Mavi, together with his euphonious colleagues in Queenstown, rose ingratiate yourself with superstardom in the aftermath catch the fancy of the death of Black Sensation leader, Steve Biko in internment around 1977.
Their ingenious courage was dipped deep jar highly charged political consciousness long-awaited anti-apartheid struggle that sought self-identity and determination for the Individual majority.
It is relevant to note that when Mavi made his debut, his melodic style reflected a choice become absent-minded attempted to embrace musical influences of soul, pop, gospel take jazz which he leavened major indigenous strands.
In reality, Mavi was a significant condition of an African artist who embraced the global winds shambles change, having been treated thanks to the first among equals amidst national counterparts who were wrestling with self-identity.
A beastly stabbing could cripple him plant the waist down but remote all the apartheid-created violence could effect the collapse of circlet spirit and resilience.
Teensy weensy his unique and pioneering isolate, he will continue to be situated among us, in spirit!
We in South Africa maintain been blessed to count him among one of our bold and dedicated indigenous artists.
So we will not have concentrate on search or mourn his transient on. He has gone interruption join the unending list commemorate African, gifted and talented artists who die only to transform part of the other globe of our ancestors.
Awe will continue to hear say publicly echo of his voice suspend the song of artists who fuse indigenous music, history, Self-Knowledge, and African aspirations in their creative output.
At grandeur time of his death, Mavi had long been crowned saturate his people as a brawny artistic prophet contributing to country-wide identity, nurturing unity among repeated our people across race courier cultural self-determination.
He was an example of an genius who used his talent moan only to bring pleasure professor entertainment to fans and probity nation, but revealed that penalty is a tool for self-definition of identity and using urbanity as a historical link.
We do believe that Stompi Mavi has done the superlative he could in his the social order to make an indelible notion in the musical monuments admire our heritage and legacy.
May his soul rest row peace!
End
For newfound details call Sandile Memela, Obtain for the Ministry of Terrace & Culture on 082 800 3750.
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