Stimela

Stimela is a South African band which emerged as an afrofusion ensemble in the 1980s under the leadership of guitarist Ray Phiri best known for his collaboration on Paul Simon's Graceland and The Rhythm of the Saints, albums. Stimela originated from a soul band called The Cannibals. Established by Phiri in the 1970s, the band attained a series of successful singles in South Africa. In the early 1980s, Phiri and former members of The Cannibals came together to form Stimela (meaning "steam train"). Ray Phiri assumed leadership of the band,as a guitarist, handling songwriting and frequently taking on lead vocals. Joy White was the band's initial vocalist. Subsequently, the band underwent expansion with the addition of new members Charlie "Sam" Ndlovu, Nana Coyote, Thapelo Kgomo, Jacob "Mparanyana" Radebe and Ntokozo Zungu.[citation needed] The band's name transitioned to Stimela following a transformative event in Mozambique, where they found themselves stranded in Maputo for three months. Forced to sell all their possessions to afford a train journey back home, this experience became pivotal as it inspired the band's new name, Stimela.[citation needed] The band achieved platinum status with albums like Fire, Passion and Ecstasy, Listen, Look and Decide and the controversial People Don't Talk, So Let's Talk. Stimela's song, "Whispers in the Deep," lyrics' prompted, "speak your mind, don’t be afraid" faced broadcast restrictions by the former South African Broadcasting Corporation as Stimela's music occasionally confronted the boundaries of what could be openly expressed during apartheid. Afrofusion constituted the core sound of Stimela. Stimela combined jazz and R&B with traditional South African rhythmic styles such as mbaqanga. Ray Phiri (1947–2017) - lead guitar, lead vocals Sam Ndlovu - Lead Vocals Isaac "Mnca" Mtshali (1955–2019) - drummer Nana Coyote (1955–2010) - lead vocals Thapelo Khomo - Keyboards/Piano/Synthesizers Ntokozo Zungu - lead guitar Bafana Khuzwayo (1978-2017) - organ Lloyd Lelosa (1955-2021) - Keyboards/Piano Jabu Sibumbe - Bass Sandile Ngema - Bass Charles "Dibabas" Ndlovu (***-2009) - Organ Sizwe Mashinini - Keyboards 1982: Mama Wami 1982: The Cannibals 1983: I Hate Telling A Lie /I Love You 1984: Fire, Passion and Ecstasy 1985: Shadows, Fear and Pain 1986: Look, Listen and Decide 1986: Rewind (EP) 1987: The Unfinished Story 1988: Live! 1989: Trouble In The Land of Plenty 1990: The 2nd Half 1991: Siyaya 1992: Khululani 1993: Are You Ready (Live Album) 1994: Don't Ask Why 1995: Are You Ready (Live) 1996: Out of the Ashes 2000: Steam Tracks (Best of) 2001: Live At The Market Theatre - 1st Half (Stimela 1988 Live Re-Release ) 2002: The 2nd Half (Re-release) 2010: A Lifetime... 2011: Turn on the Sun [citation needed] 2018: Catch The Train "South African Musician Phiri Dies at 70". Voice of America (VOA). Associated Press. 15 July 2017. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2024. "South African jazz legend Ray Phiri dies at 70". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. 12 July 2017. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2024. Tsioulcas, Anastasia (12 July 2017). "'Graceland' Guitarist And Arranger Ray Phiri Dies, Age 70". National Public Radio (NPR). Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2024. South Africa, Brand (12 July 2017). "Remembering Ray Phiri, South African musician 1947 – 2017". Brand South Africa. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2014. Pace. Hortors Publishing. 1989. Bridet, Guillaume; Brinker, Virginie; Burnautzki, Sarah; Garnier, Xavier (2018-06-22). Dynamiques actuelles des littératures africaines: Panafricanisme, cosmopolitisme, afropolitanisme (in French). KARTHALA Editions. p. 238. ISBN 978-2-8111-1982-9. Mojapelo, Max (2008). Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music. African Minds. p. 138. ISBN 978-1-920299-28-6. Pareles, Jon (14 July 2017). "Ray Phiri, 'Graceland' Guitarist and Anti-Apartheid Bandleader, Dies at 70". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 15 July 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2024. "Stimela Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-04-26. "The Presidency | Raymond Chikapa Phiri (1947)". 2014-12-09. Archived from the original on 2014-12-09. Retrieved 2024-04-26. Ray Phiri & Stimela: performing Highland Drifter live in concert - (Zuluboys, 2010)