A last soirée for Sir Ray

IF you frequent live music shows in Windhoek, chances are you’ve heard Raymond ‘Sir Ray’ Mupfumira play.

But what instrument the versatile musician, who died last week after battling a heart condition, would be playing was anyone’s guess.

An incredibly talented bassist, keyboardist, mbira player, live looper and composer, Mupfumira lived and breathed music until his untimely death at age 35.

From touring and performing with the likes of Elemotho, Jackson Wahengo, Oteya, The Ells, Vaughn Ahrens, Lize Ehlers, Riaan Smit and Tschuku Tschuku to playing mbira with Joss Stone, Mupfumira was a ubiquitous, yet humble, and impactful presence on Windhoek’s live music scene.

Leading by example through passion, dedication and a prolific love of music, Mupfumira was a mentor to many.

Mupfumira’s virtues of generousity, dependability, as well as his collaborative spirit, have been extolled in the wake of his death as friends and fans battle to come to terms with his absence.

Whether you remember the Zimbabwean-born artist performing at The Warehouse’s Boiler Room as part of Mashura with Slickartie, alongside Tapz Munya, as one of Elemotho’s Modern Nomads with Sam Batola or collaborating with Windhoek’s finest in ‘Sir Ray and Friends’, Mupfumira stands out as a musician’s musician – a cool cat whose ability to dive into jazz, soul, R&B, acoustic rock, punk and African rhythms seemed effortless as he threw himself into fine tuning the art of live performance with diverse local collaborators.

“Ray was more than just my band member, he was the heartbeat of the ‘Oteya and Friends’ live band experience at Chopsi’s Bar,” says Oteya in a public tribute post.

“He helped elevate my live performances with grace, creativity and dedication. He brought out the very best in those he played with and helped shape a movement towards richer, more dynamic live music in Namibia,” she says.

“We have lost a friend, brother, and a shining spirit whose music and memory will remain with us always.”

Oteya’s eloquent memorial is one of many tributes still pouring in.

They come from all over the world and each is as grief-stricken as the next. A tribute by EarGround Media says Mupfumira performed on over 150 stages and across 18 countries.

Many of those stages were in Windhoek, Mupfumira’s second home, where he was loved as a brother, a friend and as a mentor to those who sought out his warmth which was nothing short of a ray of acceptance, musical healing and light.

‘Celebrating the Life of Raymond Tatenda Mupfumira’, a last soirée for Sir Ray, will be held tomorrow at Windhoek Gymnasium Hall (1 Sossusvlei Street, Kleine Kuppe) at 12h00.

Friend and frequent collaborator Vaughn Ahrens has announced that later in the day, “a tribute jam” to honour Mupfumira will take place at Muso’s Café and Bar (24 Merensky Street in Windhoek) from 18h00.

Proceeds from this event will go towards Mupfumira’s funeral arrangements.

Donations are also welcome before 30 May and account details are available online as shared by Ahrens.

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com

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