Moretele Park opens stage to stars from Zim, DRC and Lesotho

Under the theme ‘We Are Africa’, this year’s concert celebrates South Africa’s coming of age and protests against xenophobia and the abhorrent violence towards foreign nationals experienced earlier this year. With a diverse line-up, it is a star-studded procession of music royalty. Organisers Drakensberg Promotions have unveiled this year’s line-up, which features an exceptional parade of artists who will head to Mamelodi for full day’s revelry pulsing with jazz, pop, soul, dance and traditional music.

This year’s line-up features a veritable ‘who's who’ of the African music industry, spanning the continent from the DRC, to Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Among the stars headlining the 2015 event is veteran performer and elder statesmen of homegrown music, Caiphus Semenya, a regular at Moretele and a man who needs little introduction. He will be joined by Lesotho’s inimitable Bhudaza, who first captured the public’s imagination as the leader of seminal 80s group, Sankomota. Zimbabwean legend Oliver ‘Tuku' Mtukudzi is also billed to perform, joining prominent soukous musician Kanda Bongo Man from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Platinum-selling singer Thandiswa Mazwai, who burst onto the scene as lead vocalist of Bongo Maffin and then later established herself as a solo artist, is also on the bill, as is Mamelodi-born, Grammy-nominated artist Vusi ‘The Voice’ Mahlasela. Crossover band Mango Groove, who enjoyed numerous hits during their prime in the 1980s and recently made a comeback with a new album entitled Bang The Drum, will also join the vibrant mix of artists.

Keeping to their long-standing resolution to creating opportunities for economic development, Drakensberg Promotions has made sure that regional and up-coming bands from Tshwane are added to the bill. The younger generation of musicians will therefore be well-represented at Moretele Park this year, including acapella sensations The Soil, who recently bagged a nomination at this year’s BET Awards in the US for Best International Act. They will be joined by soulful crooner Afrotraction and house duo Black Motion, along with participants of the provincial Puisano Live Music Programme talent search.

Sam Mhangwane, part of the organising team, said the event would pay homage to South Africa's musical luminaries while showcasing the next generation of bubbling talent. He said he was happy with what the festival had achieved since its inception and looks forward to its growth.

Join the thousands of revellers at the Moretele Park Tribute Concert in Mamelodi by booking your tickets from Computicket before they sell out.

Build-up events

Music lovers in nearby Johannesburg are encouraged to get in on the act and catch the magic of the Moretele Park Tribute Concert at a series of lunchtime concerts at Newtown Junction mall. These will take place between 1pm and 2pm on Friday 7, 14 and 21 August with the support of the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation. The concerts will feature young artists from the Puisano Jazz Band.

Then on Saturday 22 August, a week before the big concert, Drakensberg Promotions will host a music business workshop in Pretoria featuring various experienced industry individuals. The event is designed as a panel discussion presented by top industry professionals and aimed at musicians and others in the industry who want to know more about the business of music. The workshop will cover business operations, event production, royalties and the latest trends in the music industry. Members of the public, the music industry and entreprenueurs are invited to participate.