Kwaito group TKZee.
Huawei Joburg Day has come early this year and the music line-up is as spectacular as previous years.
The event, which usually takes place in the first week of September, is happening this Saturday at the Emmarentia Botanical Gardens and has a musical headline performance that’s guaranteed to take revellers back to the ’90s.
Among the myriad fond memories from the ’90s were Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, the country’s first democratic election, that unforgettable Rugby World Cup win for SA and, of course, the emergence of new and unifying musical sounds.
Exactly 22 years ago, a kwaito group popped up with an album that tore through the airwaves, dance floors and could be heard pumping out on almost every home and car sound system.
Now, for the first time since their iconic album Halloween was released, the super talented TKZee is set to headline the third annual Huawei Joburg Day.
Music-loving Joburgers are invited to travel back to a time of camaraderie and good clean fun in the sun.
Thando Makhunga, the 94.7 station manager, agrees that the Halloween album represented a pivotal moment of music in South Africa and became the soundtrack for an era of freedom, diversity, creativity and unbridled possibilities for the Rainbow Nation.
“All these years later, the hits from the album evokes nostalgia for so many of the Generation X listeners,” said Makhunga. “Kwaito was to that generation what Gqom will be for millennials – a new unique sound that represents the youth of that time.”
The group’s album went on to become a massive commercial cross-over success and is one of the biggest selling albums of all-time, with more than 200 000 copies sold worldwide.
TKZee performs at nightclub Zone6 in Soweto for Youth Day. Picture: Gallo Images
Sharing Makhunga’s sentiments, TKZee member Kabelo Mabalane said TKZee played an integral part in South African music history. “I think Halloween is the soundtrack of the post-’94 movement. I believe TKZee was the group that captured the energy of what was going on at that time,” he said.
The trio promises nothing but the best for Huawei Joburg Day picnickers.
“Huawei Joburg Day in the park is a family event and we can connect even more with the younger generation. It is something we are proud of, we are proud to be working with 947, we thank 947 for this collaboration,” said Akhram Mohammed, Huawei SA Chief Technology Officer.
This year’s full line-up includes TKZee, Easy Freak, Holly Rey, Sho Madjozi, Micasa, Prince Kaybee, DJ Zinhle and Tamara Dey, Mango Groove, Sun EL & Simmy, Matthew Mole, Beatenberg and Tresor and Shortstraw.
Gates open at 9am and tickets range from R150 to R1 200 at Ticketpro.
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