THE family of Stimela lead singer, Ray Phiri is happy to accept his posthumous honorary PhD.
The iconic singer will be honoured with a doctorate and become a Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology by the University of South Africa (Unisa) on Friday, 12 April.
Chikapa, as he was popularly known, died in 2017 after a battle with lung cancer at age 70.
His wife, Rabelani Phiri told Daily Sun she feels happy and honoured by Unisa's recognition of her late husband's contribution to Mzansi's entertainment space.
“The Phiri family is humbled by the acknowledgement and recognition of Mr Phiri’s talents, which have evidently outlived his natural lifetime. However, we're honoured to continue the unfinished story of his contribution to not only the creative fraternity but that of humanity and the quest for better. At the time of his passing, indeed we mourned the passing of Mr Ray Chikapa Phiri,” she said.
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The award will be accepted by Rabelani, while his whole family will attend the ceremony which will be held in Tshwane.
“The University of South Africa today recognises him as Dr Ray Chikapa Phiri. His family, biological and chosen, will be attending the ceremony where I, his widow, will accept on his behalf,” she told Daily Sun.
Ray and Rabelani tied the knot in 2016. At the time, he was 69 years old, and she was 24 years old. He had been married twice before that and both his wives died.
This isn’t the first posthumous accolade he is getting. Shortly after his death in 2017, Ray was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the South African Afro Music Awards.
