In the dark city of Alexander Township
Not too far from Kings Bioscope
A place that sparked Alexander bus boycott
Masemenya lived around the corner from here at 4TH Street.
She epitomized womanhood to be human hood and more
Masemenya gave birth to a child called Caiphas Semenya
Who went on to weave and sing many songs.
For the love of life in many distant horizon of this world.
Today happens to be his 70th birthday
That we are celebrating this evening.
Imagine seven score decade of living
Without a wrinkle to depict pain and sorrow of exile life
Encountered in all his trials and tribulations as a musician
Is something to envy in his life pilgrimage.

All of us who are gathered here this evening
Wish to say in the lyrics of Brother Hugh Masekela;
“Melody maker we want to thank you, for making us happy”
Your melody and harmony echoes in many distant horizon of this world.

As you celebrate the August of your life
I want to say in Brother Jonas Gwagwa lirycs”kukude hele mama
Nalapho siyo vela khona.Nalapho siqonde khona”
Meaning we come a long way but we still have a long way to go.
This is his new release but it goes back to the cotton fields
Of Gainsville florida. And I was there in its making.
As my memory beckons for future
I am reminded of a critical incident that took place     
When I was visiting Sis Letta and my Brother Caiphas in los Angelos.
There  were in the midst of recording the Roots Album
With Quincy Jones.  Caiphas out of the blue told me that one day
He would like to establish a National Academy Of Africa’s Performing  Arts .
I thought it was just a defered  dream.  Because the tyranny of  time and space
In South Africa was reminiscent of Nazi Germany. And such a thing could never happen.
But today on his 70th birthday his dream is filling up like the limpopo River.
 
And , Why not!  our rainbow nation is yearning for its cultural identity
 for a generation to come. The National Academy of Africa,  Performing Arts
Like the Duke Elington School of the Perfoming Arts in Washington D.C
 Is long  overdue  here in South Africa. How can we dream of having a National
Cultural group like the one found in Guinea, Mexico, or China to mention a few.
If you do not have a place, to incubate our young talented artists.

We are pleased to announce the presents of our legends across the river. They are here with  us in spirit, to  celebrate your 70th birthday Ntate Caiphas Semenya. These legends are Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, Danny Glover, Herb Alpert, Wayne Henderson and WiltonFelder.
Allow me at this juncture to thank all the legends at home and abroad
Who have made music the main orchestration of their lives
 During the trying time of apartheid. To celebrate your accolades
I would like to dedicate this poem written by Langston Hughes the doyen
Of the Harlem Renaissance who kept the Afrikspirit glowing at all cost.  The poem reads like so;
I’ve known rivers:
I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow
   Of human blood in human veins.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile  and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went
   Down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy bosom turn
   Al golden in the sunset.
I’ve known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
To Sis Letta who stood by her husband through thick and thin
Your  marriage  was made in heaven and we who are casualties
In this institution of marriage in the rainbow nation can only take notes from you.
On how to live in harmony like the sun compliments the earth