Southern, West African musicians to shine at Africa Day concert

Presented by the Department of Arts and Culture in association with Kaya FM and Trace Africa, the Bassline Africa Day Concert will feature performances from South African artists Thandiswa Mazwai, Vusi Mahlasela, Ray Phiri, Jobie Clarke, Petite Noir and award-winning Zimbabwean artist Jah Prayzah. The West African artists include Baloji (Congo), Bombino (Niger) and Jojo Abbott (Ghana).

“Our channel, which is now available in 18 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, takes pride in building musical bridges across the continent so this partnership is essentially a powerful extension of what we stand for,” Trace Southern Africa senior vice-president Leo Manne said. “We’re excited to work with the Bassline Live Africa team and look forward to showcasing some of Africa’s greatest.”

Kaya FM managing director Greg Maloka said: “Africa’s expression of freedom is through music.”

Designed to celebrate diversity through unity, the concert also forms part of the IGODA circuit – a group of like-minded African festivals that run over three weeks in May and June. The festivals are held in South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique and Reunion Island. These include MTN Bushfire Festival (Swaziland), Zafiko Festival (Durban, South Africa), Azgo Festival (Maputo, Mozambique), Safiko (Reunion) and the Bassline Africa Day Concert in Johannesburg. Through the IGODA circuit, fans will get a chance to catch many of the artists at different venues around Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean.

As such, on the weekend of the Bassline Africa Day Concert, Baloji, Bombino, Jah Prayzah and Petite Noir will play at MTN Bushfire, while Ray Phiri and Thandiswa Mazwai will join Jamaica’s Damian Marley at Zakifo in the coastal town of Durban. Phiri and Jojo Abbott will share the stage with Mozambican artists Lay Lizzy, Ghorwane and Batuk at Azgo in Maputo a week earlier on 20 May.

Tickets to the Bassline Africa Day Concert are R295 ($22) via Ticketpro.