Remembering Timothy Phura Duwe

HIS death has robbed Namibia of another music icon.

Born at Khorixas 39 years ago, Timothy Davie Duwe, popularly known by his stage name Phura, touched the hearts of many with his powerful, crystal-clear voice and trademark ‘Baka Baka Boko Boko’ phrase.

Known as the king of ma /gaisa, a music genre invented by the gifted keyboardist and master producer Steven !Naruseb, founder/owner of Welwitschia Music Production, Phura will be forever tied to the genre.

“I invented the ma /gaisa music genre, but it was undoubtedly popularised by Phura,” noted the Swakopmund-based producer who worked with Phura on his 2003 debut album, ‘Tsuba Tes Go Ti /Namsa’.

Although he has been around for a while on the local music scene as a back-up keyboardist for a local band known as Midnight Stars (which also had on board Stanley ‘Ou Stakes’ Tsamaseb, one of the top stars of the ma /gaisa genre), Phura only become well-known in 2003.

“Interesting to note is the fact that Phura was not a singer in the earlier stages of his career. What helped him slot into singing is the fact that he knew and understood music as an instrumentalist. It is really a miracle that he became such a standout singer.

“For someone who started to sing later in life, Phura was undoubtedly one of the most gifted ma /gaisa singers right from his first album in 2003. No wonder his fans proclaimed that he was the king of the genre and who am I to question that,” said !Naruseb.

Fate, said !Naruseb, brought the producer and Phura together.

“Phura impregnated my younger sister and I had to travel from Windhoek, where I was studying at the time, back to Swakopmund to go listen to what had befallen the family as the elder brother.

“I must admit I was initially very disappointed because my sister wasn’t working at the time and neither was Phura, who was just playing music with a band.”

He continued that God gave him a revelation that the only way to help them was to make Phura the lead singer of a band.

“Phura, with his experience, and me, with my musical wisdom or rather creativity, combined melodies and we cooked up a real storm because Phura’s hits and fame speak for themselves. Phura was untouchable as a singer way back.

“Phura was small in build but he had a very strong heart. Like any other artist, he also suffered from stage fright before a show. However, once he started singing, he would transform into the star performer he was,” the soft-spoken !Naruseb said, adding that although his background was complicated, Phura was trying hard to be a good person.

Asked how he will remember Phura, !Naruseb said nothing can erase Phura’s good grooves and super melodies.

“A new music genre had been created and made famous through him that’s why he was the king of

ma /gaisa. The genre is growing and it remains unique and proudly Namibian,” he noted while adding that “it was just supposed to be Phura”.

!Naruseb’s wife, Stella, who is also an award-winning artist, is known as one of Phura’s closest friends and the one person who always had a calming effect on the powerful singer.

“Phura and I came a very long way and it’s important to note that me and Allan ‘Swartbaster’ Jonathan were among his first back-up singers. I must say it was never easy to work with Phura, but he was a fun person off the stage.

“We forged a good understanding which later transformed into a brother-sister relationship. Indeed, he was my brother from another mother and it pains me deeply to think I will never hear his voice again,” Stella said.

She shared that Phura’s frail body was a result of his poor appetite.

“Phura did not eat a lot. He was really not someone who liked food and although I always encouraged him to eat, it was just like trying to get water from a stone.”

Stella also noted that despite his strong stage presence, Phura was an introvert.

“He was a quiet person who would only say something when required to. He liked being on his own. He liked listening to music from local artists but mostly ma /gaisa music because he ate and breathed music.

“He would always make sure I was fine whenever we went on tour together. The bond we built throughout the years is powerful and I have lost a mentor and brother.”

She pointed out the most memorable thing about Phura is that he made a difficult thing look easy.

“When I was stressed, he would calm me down. Even after we quarrelled, we never became enemies; we would be cool the next moment,” Stella said.

Funeral arrangements will be announced once the family has finalised the details. What is definitely known is that Phura will be buried at his beloved Khorixas.

Fans who would like to contibute financially to the funeral arrangements can make a deposit to the family account: Ingritha Duwe, Standard Bank, Outjo branch: 60003927864.

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