[writing’s on the wall]

September 1993, Selwyn moved from Buffalo Road to his own house at 44 Alice Street, where he still stays today. This was also the time when this team also went their separate ways once again. After the elections in 1994 the group came together again, and one more time stayed together with Selwyn. More or less this same time Selwyn took part in "the Coca-Cola Full Blast Band" competition, with his composition the "Writings On the Wall".

The same day, lead guitarist Z. Solomon, returned twilight from a Johannesburg spree, Selwyn received a phonecall informing him that he was between the 10 finalist in South Africa. That great morning the group was engaged in serious talking and planning since twilight, smoking herb and playing the ordinary guitar with mellow sounds spiced by Selwyn.

Everybody was in good spirit cause after all they were going to Johannesburg soon to do recordings. This was some of the competition rules and a live video was shot at the S.A.B.C. T.V building in Auckland Park, Johannesburg. Amazingly the group disbanded again because of a small little difference. Nothing too much that could not have been rectified though. Somehow Satan once again succeeded to split the group. Competition rules was that no real drummer was supposed to be used but a drum machine instead. Selwyn argued with the organisors of the competition and even offered to take his own drumset with to do the recordings. All this somehow was just too much for Rainbow’s drummer. The last Selwyn saw him until today was when he asked to go home to fetch small needs and being aware that he was suppose to go to Johannesburg- he never returned though. All of them was suppose to return after the first live open performance of the group- the date 27 July 1994- when the group gave some of their best ability, playing free in town for the people next to Jumbo Bazaars in King William's Town what a splendid show but also the last. Somehow there came to be a small misunderstanding. The bassman and the lead guitarist did return as promised after this remarkable performance. It was also the bassman that told Selwyn that he came to fetch the clothes of the drummer. Selwyn refused to give the clothes, and said he must come and fetch it himself. The remaining two players, decided to continue playing, but their empty promises differed from the reality of the situation. That was the last of these players.

Selwyn still sees the lead guitarist some times, and the last time the drummer spoke to him was the 24/02/97. Selwyn had to make a return call and several calls, cause the phone on the other was programmed to only allow the user to only have very limited time. The main thing was that both somehow felt like giving it a go with Rainbow band one more time.

It was also during this same period that Selwyn got in touch with "Enver Minnie", who was a kind of promoter for a company named "Zee-Zee Universal", apparently belonging to the daughter of "Mr. Mandela". This man promised Selwyn the world. The daily dispatch newspaper wrote an article about the biggest reggae festival that was to take place in East London, a racetrack close to the beach, over the Easter weekend. Top international artists as well as local artists was to perform here in East London, close to the beach. a reporter at the daily dispatch gave him the phone number and that is how he got in touch with "Enver Minnie".

At first it seemed as if Selwyn had no chance to get through to him, cause he was talking about "professional groups only" that was to perform. He only allowed the band to take part in the festival after he heard some demos of Selwyn’s releases. The man was so impressed with the music, and agreed and faxed some kind of agreement to Selwyn that his company was going to pay the band a certain amount of money. This was the first time Rainbow had such a high offer to play for. Selwyn tried to get his own team together once again, and even had a chance to team up with the brother of the lead guitarist who was playing the bass guitar in the successful period about 1985 to 1988, with Rainbow, when he left for studies in Durban. Today he is a very good bass player, but, unfortunately playing for another band.

The new team started working on one song only when the sad news came that the festival was to be postponed and then eventually canceled. They were already in the stages of Selwyn faxing their additional instrumental needs through to the company, when this bad news came. Instead of continuing the practice to build up the program for any other show, the players showed that they were simply in this deal just for the sake of money. Soon after they heard that the show was off, they disappeared one by one.

In fact Selwyn was also interested to take part in this show with the same lineup that played with him on his seco^nd release, that is why he send his cousin around to the bassman and drummer from Mdantsane to let them know that he actually wanted to take this show on with them. Unfortunately not much came from all this, because of this cancellation.

After the canceled reggae festival Selwyn still had important talks with Enver, who asked for more of his demo compositions. He promised to get Selwyn an international recording deal. He spent hours on the phone, talking to Selwyn from Johannesburg to King William's Town. He even agreed to be Selwyn's manager. He always seemed to have some kind of new story or explanation for his promises. He promised me that Selwyn would work with in-house international artist to write songs, and to work on the music, the way Selwyn used to do at home working on his own songs, using sequencer and dat machine etc. Selwyn asked for a copy of the so-called contract between himself and a recording company called "Toy Factory". He reckoned that the file was to thick and did not have time to make copies. He only faxed the top copy of this so-called agreement to Selwyn, and said that he gave the contract to a lawyer who was going to check it out. After lots of brainwashing by Enver it seemed as if his company closed or moved. Some time went by before Selwyn managed to trace him again. Once again he had the same kind of stories and excuses. Eventually he and Selwyn got into a bit of rough talk because Selwyn just had enough of his schemes and lies. The last date he spoke to Selwyn and acted as if he never made any promises, was *--------------------*

Selwyn in the meantime had to run-up his telephone account. During the time that he could not get hold of "Enver". he tried to get hold of this so called international "Toy Factory" recording company. After numerous phone calls he abandoned the search. Enver Minnie really broke the spirit within Selwyn on that fatal last day that he openly admitted that we might as well drop everything, "as if there was anything after all, you tell me!" was Selwyn’s words! Selwyn is just so much concerned today to know what happened to his compositions.

The Reality Now

The drummer, Selby Tsoyi, now recently in the year 2000, sent a message with Selwyn’s sister – "Shirley" that Selwyn must let him know when he may need him to play shows. Selwyn also saw his friend the bassman, Thandi Fulani, now recently on a Sunday, when he passed by for a quick "hello". As a team they really went through a lot of uphill together it was disappointing to know that they never had a chance to sit down and discuss their problems in a sensible way.

Selwyn even had a live interview at "Radio C.K.I." in Bisho with DJ " Keith Nkayi," the so called "Bongoman", who has been representing for years now a great reggae show every Saturday from 12 pm till 3 pm. It was with his song "The Writing’s on the Wall" when he had this interview, telling it live over the air that he would like to make up with his ex players that played with him on his seco^nd release. No response came from any of them. It was also at this same studio that Selwyn had an interview with the same DJ on the 11^th of may 1991. Exactly 10 years after "bob" went back home to Zion. What a great feeling it was with "Percy" and "Selby" also sharing his delight at the station. "Keith Nkayi" the "Bongoman" as known this side also gave the group a live interview with the seco^nd release, "2 Good 2 B True." Selwyn feels proud to say that the "Bongoman" is really doing a good job this side bringing a message with sweet reggae music to the people of the Eastern Cape. All the people just love him this side.

Selwyn as well as "Bongoman" had the honor to meet "Benjahman Murphy from Chicago". he was studying at "Fort Hare University" for a year. He also had an interview with the Bongoman at the same station, playing some of his reggae collection and letting the Rastas and people this side come to know his kind of vibe. Selwyn helped him free of charge with his sound system to play an open air reggae gig at the university, [music only.] Most of the Rastafarians this side attended this great gig. Students from the university also skanked to the music and loved every bit of reggae sound. "Benjy" as known this side had a big selection of reggae music from the states. This occasion was a whole night affair on the 3^rd of October 1998. "Benjy" meanwhile moved back to Chicago early last year, 1999. He still has regular contact with Selwyn through e/mailing and postage.