As we count down the hours to probably the biggest and baddest African jam of the summer, the stars of Dance Afrique Summerfest 2015 came out to play and answer questions with the press and it was a promise of beautiful things to come. Believe me when I say tomorrow is finna be FIERCE!
The stars arrived in a row – Nhlanhla Nciza of Mafikizolo resplendent is a blue dress and yellow bolero, adorned with traditional South African beads, and her music partner followed in an urban white vest and jacket, topped off with a Canadian mountie hat a la Pharrell Willaims.
Yemi Alade kept it casual chic in a white shirt and a floral halterneck dress, but her hair was full on AJANKOLOKOLO – I was completely there for the hairstyle mehn!
DJ Edu kept it casual in a black t-shirt and Akon’s manager was on stage to represent the Senegalese star as he was still in the air coming in from the States.
Everyone on the stage talked about the growth, prominence and worldwide appreciation of African music, and the plans to take it even bigger and further.
Yemi Alade was on top form as tomorrow is going to be her first performance in the UK. I was so pleased to hear her say that she is passionate to break out from the hold of Johnny and take her career to ever greater heights. I already know that she isn’t a one-trick pony, but I’m pleased to hear it from the horse’s mouth.
Mafikizolo tho’. They just blew me away. They are both so calm, so poised. Just so…beautiful. And inspirational. I learnt that the word ‘Mafikizolo’ is the name often used in South Africa to describe the ‘new kids on the block’ – which is what they were when they started out, and although they have been in the Music Industry for more than a decade, they still retain the humility that brought them thus far.
I am rooting for Yemi Alade as this is Viva Naija and all, but…Mafikizolo stole my heart today and I cannot WAIT to hear them perform tomorrow.
Dance Afrique Summerfest
Fri, 28 Aug 2015 – 19:00
