They changed their name to Stimela after a life-changing experience in Mozambique when they were stranded in Maputo for three months. They had to sell all their belongings to take a train home. This trip was a watershed moment as it was where they conceived the new name for the band: train is translated as Stimela in Nguni languages.
Besides the change in name, the band also expanded with new members Charlie "Sam" Ndlovu, Nana Coyote, Thapelo Kgomo and Ntokozo Zungu. With soulful tunes and gripping lyrics, the band has recorded platinum-winning albums such as Fire, Passion and Ecstasy, Listen, Look and Decide as well as the controversial People Don't Talk, So Let's Talk. One of their most memorable tracks - "Whispers in the Deep" - was restricted for broadcast by the old South African Broadcasting Corporation.
Members
Ray Phiri - lead guitar, lead vocals (Raymond Chikapa Enock Phiri, 23 March 1947 – 12 July 2017)
Sam Ndlovu - Vocals
Isaac "Mnca" Mtshali - drummer
The late - Nana Coyote - lead vocals
Thapelo Kgomo - keyboards
Ntokozo Zungu - lead guitar
Bafana Khuzwayo - organ
Discography
1982: Fire, Passion and Ecstasy
1983: Rewind
1985: Shadows, Fear and Pain
1986: Look, Listen and Decide
1988: Live!
1987: Unfinished Story
1991: Siyaya
1983: Rewind (EP)
1985: Shadows Fear and Pain (EP)
1989: Trouble in the Land of Plenty
1994: Khululani
1995: Don't Ask Why
1995: Are You Ready (Live)
1987: The Unfinished Story
1996: Out of the Ashes
2000: Steam Tracks (Best of)
2001: Live At The Market Theatre - 1st Half (Live)
2002: The 2nd Half (Live)
2010: A Lifetime...
2011: turn on the sun
Raymond Chikapa Enock Phiri (23 March 1947 – 12 July 2017) was a South African jazz, fusion and mbaqanga musician born in Mpumalanga to Malawian immigrant worker and South African guitarist nicknamed "Just Now" Phiri. He became founding member of the Cannibals in the 1970s. When the Cannibals disbanded Ray founded Stimela, with whom he conceived gold and platinum-selling albums like Fire, Passion and Ecstacy (1991), Look, Listen and Decide (1992) as well as the controversial People Don't Talk So Let's Talk.
Unfinished Story
Stimela Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cheoeum mannatdeon uri
Gateun ggumeul mideotgie haengbokhaeji
Ajik manhi eoryeotdeon geuddae
Uri jageun noraero sesangeul baggurira
Dallyeowatdeon sigandeul
Eoneusae geu manheun naldeureul
Urin hamgge gateun ggumeul ggun geoya
Mideojugil barae hamggehaneun nareul
Dasi geunari omyeon ggok deullyeo julgge
Ajik mot dahan yaegi
Yo It feels like it was only yesterday
Ajik gieokhae
Moduege boyeojweotdeon uriui cheotmudae
Eoneusae sigani beolsseo heulleoga beoryeosseo
The memories jeoldae ijeul suneun eobseo
Hamgge nabweotdeon sungandeul
Eonjena himi doe jugo
Gachi yeope isseojun mankeum
Yeongweonhi gaseumsoge dama dul georaneun
Maeumeul aradweo
Jigeum ggeuchi aniraneun geoseul
Himdeun ildo manhatji
Ggumeul hyanghae dallideon ulgo utdeon sigandeul
Geureom sunganmada beotige himeul jun geon ara
Neoraneun geoseul
Ajik moduwa nanuji mothan ggumdeul
Neomuna manhgie gidaril su isseo
Geuddaen bami sedorok nanugo sipeo
Uri mot dahan yaegi
We walk the same path
We jump around We rock a music
On a same stage
Eoneusae shib(10)nyeonira namgineun same page
Bamsae gomineul hamyeo
Saeroun mudaereul boigi wihan
Haengbokhan gomineul hamyeo bonaetdeon ishib(20) dae
Eoneudeot siganeul heulleo samshib(30)dae
Huhoe eobtneun siganeul geudaewa bonae haengbokhae,
Mianhae
I' m sorry jamsiman ddeonalge yeongweonhi hamgge hal
Junbireul hagi wihae ddeonalge
Eoneusae nae moseub (nae moseub)
Beolsseo eoreuni dwae itjiman
Gaseumsok yeoljeongeun (yeoljeongeun)
Cheoumbodado deo gadeukhae
Uri jigeumeun jamsi heeojijiman (Ooh heeojijiman)
Mideojugil barae hamggehaneun nareul (hamggehaneun nareul)
Dasi geunari omyeon ggok deullyeojulge (omyeon
deullyeojugle)
Ajik mot dahan yaegi
Ajik moduwa nanuji mothan ggumdeul (Oooh mothan ggumdeul)
Neomuna manhgie gidaril su isseo (gidaril su isseo na)
Geuddaen bami sedorok nanugo sipeo (Oh nanugo sipeo)
Uri mot dahan (Ooh)
Uri mot dahan yaegi Uuuuh
The lyrics of Stimela's Unfinished Story express a longing for the past and a desire to relive happy memories once again. The singer reflects on a time when they were young and had dreams for the future, and the song describes the experiences they shared with a loved one who is no longer with them. The lines "We walk the same path / We jump around We rock a music / On a same stage" suggest that their shared experiences include a passion for music and performance. Despite the passing of time, and the difficulties they may have faced since that happy time, the singer still believes that they will be reunited with their loved one in the future.
The lyrics of Unfinished Story are imbued with nostalgia and a sense of loss, but they also convey a message of hope and perseverance. The line "Ajik mot dahan yaegi" (I still have an unfinished story) suggests that the singer's journey is not yet complete, and that they still have a chance to fulfill their dreams and create new memories. The song's melancholic tone is enhanced by its slow tempo, with the haunting melody and harmonies creating a wistful and reflective atmosphere that matches the sentiment of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Amu geotdo eobtjiman gaseumi neul beokchatdeon
Although nothing happened, my heart was always heavy.
Cheoeum mannatdeon uri
We first met.
Gateun ggumeul mideotgie haengbokhaeji
Believing in the same dream made us happy.
Ajik manhi eoryeotdeon geuddae
Still, it was a difficult time for us back then.
Uri jageun noraero sesangeul baggurira
With our little songs, we tried to change the world.
Dallyeowatdeon sigandeul
The time we spent fooling around.
Eoneusae geu manheun naldeureul
All those many days.
Urin hamgge gateun ggumeul ggun geoya
We both held onto the same dream.
Uri jigeumeun jamsi heeojijiman
Although we are separated for now.
Mideojugil barae hamggehaneun nareul
I hope you still believe in us being together.
Dasi geunari omyeon ggok deullyeo julgge
When we meet again, we'll definitely listen to each other's stories.
Ajik mot dahan yaegi
There are still stories left unsaid.
Yo It feels like it was only yesterday
It feels like it was just yesterday.
Ajik gieokhae
I still remember.
Moduege boyeojweotdeon uriui cheotmudae
Our first stage where everything was shown.
Eoneusae sigani beolsseo heulleoga beoryeosseo
Time has been passing by for a long time.
The memories jeoldae ijeul suneun eobseo
I can never forget the memories.
Hamgge nabweotdeon sungandeul
The time we spent together.
Eonjena himi doe jugo
Always giving each other strength.
Gachi yeope isseojun mankeum
Being together side by side.
Yeongweonhi gaseumsoge dama dul georaneun
Forever engraved in our hearts together.
Maeumeul aradweo
Understand my heart.
Jigeum ggeuchi aniraneun geoseul
The thing that is not yet finished.
Himdeun ildo manhatji
It's been a hard journey.
Ggumeul hyanghae dallideon ulgo utdeon sigandeul
The time we cried and laughed together while dreaming.
Geureom sunganmada beotige himeul jun geon ara
Even for just that moment, I know it was worth it.
Neoraneun geoseul
The thing that belongs to you.
Ajik moduwa nanuji mothan ggumdeul
There are still many dreams we haven't realized yet.
Neomuna manhgie gidaril su isseo
We can still wait for them, even if it takes a long time.
Geuddaen bami sedorok nanugo sipeo
I still want to spend nights like that.
We walk the same path
We are walking the same path.
We jump around We rock a music
We dance around and rock out to the music.
On a same stage
On the same stage.
Eoneusae shib(10)nyeonira namgineun same page
For ten years, we have been on the same page.
Bamsae gomineul hamyeo
Late at night, reminiscing.
Saeroun mudaereul boigi wihan
For a new path we want to make.
Haengbokhan gomineul hamyeo bonaetdeon ishib(20) dae
Sharing happy reminiscences from 20 years ago.
Eoneudeot siganeul heulleo samshib(30)dae
Passing time in 30 years.
Huhoe eobtneun siganeul geudaewa bonae haengbokhae,
Happily celebrating time spent without regrets.
Mianhae
I'm sorry.
I' m sorry jamsiman ddeonalge yeongweonhi hamgge hal
I'm sorry, let's walk together forever, even though it may be difficult.
Junbireul hagi wihae ddeonalge
Let's prepare for the future.
Eoneusae nae moseub (nae moseub)
My posture, my state of mind.
Beolsseo eoreuni dwae itjiman
It may be awkward, but it's okay.
Gaseumsok yeoljeongeun (yeoljeongeun)
The sincerity in our hearts.
Cheoumbodado deo gadeukhae
It becomes even fuller and more complete.
Uri jigeumeun jamsi heeojijiman (Ooh heeojijiman)
Although we are separated for now (Although we are separated).
Mideojugil barae hamggehaneun nareul (hamggehaneun nareul)
I hope you still believe in us being together (Believe in being together).
Dasi geunari omyeon ggok deullyeojulge (omyeon deullyeojugle)
When we meet again, we'll definitely listen to each other's stories (We will definitely listen when we meet again).
Ajik mot dahan yaegi
There are still stories left unsaid.
Ajik moduwa nanuji mothan ggumdeul (Oooh mothan ggumdeul)
There are still many dreams we haven't realized yet (Ooh, many unrealized dreams).
Neomuna manhgie gidaril su isseo (gidaril su isseo na)
We can still wait for them, even if it takes a long time (I can still wait).
Geuddaen bami sedorok nanugo sipeo (Oh nanugo sipeo)
I still want to spend nights like that (Oh, I still want to laugh and cry).
Uri mot dahan (Ooh)
There's still a lot more for us (Ooh).
Uri mot dahan yaegi Uuuuh
There are still stories left to tell, yeah.
Contributed by Chase M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@khulekaningema7970
Unfinished story that's my favorite song by Stimela back in the early 90's.
@Living7Stone
Was 19 and am still in love with that song
@valufeeds4884
This album came out in 1986, the same year Stimela got involved in a fatal accident which claimed some of the Hot Soul Singers backing vocalists. Ray Phiri had broken ribs and was hospitalised for sometime. One of the greatest bands indeed.
@berthalesia7629
Yes I remember He was flown to Morning Side Clinic in Sandton it was under CHL ClinicsHolding Limited very Critical everyone was scared. The Lady who lost her Life was from the group called The Angel's and her Name was Jane Madubane and she was the lead singer she was from KZN if I remember m
@berthalesia7629
Correct me if I'm wrong I was 13 yeast old
@thegeneral1075
@@berthalesia7629correct that lady was Jean Madubane from KZN, she was the lead singer of the group The Angels which consisted Tu Nokwe's sister Marilyn Nokwe and the late Nohlanhla Dhlomo who passed away in 2019, Jean Madubane sang duet with Ray Phiri on the song called Time which came from the same album as Unfinished Story, track 6 on the album, yes the accident happened in 1987, Stimela was traveling to the then Orange Free State, Ray and the band were the number enemy of the Apartheid state due to thier songs and titles, that accident took the lives of Ashley Subel and manger Peter Kunene
@goodmannkosi6877
❤ the greatest of SA Giants
@15lastone
I watched this music for the very first time back in the 80s when I was just 7yrs and fall in love ❤️ 😍 since. I love the song, the band and the King Phiri himself🙏. Rest in peace King 🤴 🙏
@NtokozoNdlo2612
I was born in 1998 but i love this Band music
They say it's for elders
@rosina1998
I was also born in 1998, my dad introduced me to this music..bona music is music ..doesn't matter how old