17 January 2008

It is with deep regret and sadness that we have learnt of the tragic death of a mature, highly gifted and African artist, performer and singer, Stompi Mavi after a long illness.

He was only 57 years of age.

We offer our condolences to the Mavi family, relatives and friends and wish that the ancestral spirits grant them the serenity to accept that which no man can change.

Stompi was born in Queenstown and grew up during the most brutal period of apartheid. Despite the difficulties of life, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, few would dispute that he was a visionary young man who was ready to lift himself up by his own bootstraps.

He epitomized the spirit of Xhosa-culture rootedness, self-resilience and determination. A stubborn and focused person, he epitomized the new spirit of resistance that fused cultural consciousness with politics.

In fact, his career started when he was an eight year old boy who went on to study classical music. It was when he was 16 years of age as lead singer of the Queenstown-based Modern Jazz Sextet that he took his first steps to play a pivotal role in the redefinition of modern African soul, pop and gospel music.

Significantly, he used his talent for live performances in singing, dancing and dressing up in an Afrocentric fashion to be an outward expression of that which stirs in the soul of her people, young and old, rural and urban.

It was with the release of Manyano – A song for African Unity in 1980 that Mavi exploded into national consciousness.

It is significant to note that Mavi, together with his musical colleagues in Queenstown, rose to superstardom in the aftermath of the death of Black Consciousness leader, Steve Biko in detention around 1977.

Their creative courage was dipped deep into highly charged political consciousness of anti-apartheid struggle that sought self-identity and determination for the African majority.

It is important to note that when Mavi made his debut, his musical style reflected a choice that attempted to embrace musical influences of soul, pop, gospel and jazz which he leavened with indigenous strands.

In fact, Mavi was a significant example of an African artist who embraced the global winds of change, having been treated as the first among equals among national counterparts who were grappling with self-identity.

A violent stabbing could cripple him from the waist down but not all the apartheid-created violence could effect the collapse of his spirit and resilience.

In his unique and pioneering way, he will continue to live among us, in spirit!

We in South Africa have been blessed to count him among one of our courageous and dedicated indigenous artists. Thus we will not have to search or mourn his passing on. He has gone to join the unending list of African, gifted and talented artists who die only to become part of the other world of our ancestors.

We will continue to hear the echo of his voice in the song of artists who fuse indigenous music, history, Self-Knowledge, and African aspirations in their creative output.

At the time of his death, Mavi had long been crowned by his people as a powerful artistic prophet contributing to national identity, nurturing unity among all our people across race and cultural self-determination.

He was an example of an artist who used his talent not only to bring pleasure and entertainment to fans and the nation, but revealed that music is a tool for self-definition of identity and using culture as a historical link.

We do believe that Stompi Mavi has done the best he could in his life to make an indelible impression in the musical monuments of our heritage and legacy.

May his soul rest in peace!
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For further details call Sandile Memela, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Arts & Culture on 082 800 3750.

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