#ICYMI: Red Bull Music Festival honours Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
BRAAMFONTEIN – Langa Mavuso and Zoe Modiga pay tribute to South Africa’s musical, political and cultural icons.
Homage, honour and lessons in South Africa’s musical history were the order of the night as the Red Bull Music Festival got underway.
Langa Mavuso and Zoe Modiga, two of South Africa’s most electrifying young musicians, got the ball rolling with a powerful performance that served as a celebration of something we all love and are moved by – music.
The duo serenaded the crowd with beautiful selections of their favourite classic South African songs – a selection that was in synch with the title of the show, Khumbula: A Tribute. The intimate session held at 73 Juta Street in Braamfontein served as a testament to the young musicians’ musical inclination, a characteristic that makes them the perfect candidates to honour South African icons who came before them.
Read: Redbull Music Festival set to raise the bar for the music festival calendar
“It’s so important for us to look back, not only to learn but to show gratitude to those who came before us,” Mavuso said.
Modiga added that, as a young artist, she feels obliged to celebrate those who came before her as well as to pay tribute to those that are still around.
In the midst of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s passing, the show’s selection resonated powerfully with the crowd as Mavuso and Modiga dedicated a rendition of Miriam Makeba’s song to the late icon.
Mavuso said he felt incredibly emotional while performing the tribute for Madikizela-Mandela.
“I wanted to step away from the mic at some point because her spirit was so strong, her resilience, and the things that she’s gone through for moments like this to be possible,” said Mavuso.
WATCH:
Modiga stressed the importance for young musicians to grasp the messages put forth in classic hits such as Yise Wabant’a Bami by Busi Mhlongo, Letta Mbulu’s Music in the air and Paradise Road by Joy.
“We need their messages to be able to continue our messages,” Modiga added.
In addition to the already spectacular selection, the duo performed their own hits with Modiga performing Inganekwane and Mavuso performing his hit single Sunday Blues.
The duo said they have great things in the pipeline, with Mavuso announcing that he is currently working on his album which will feature Modiga, while Modiga has planned on adding visuals to her debut album, Yellow: The Novel.
The Red Bull Music Festival presents a mixture of well-known and upcoming artists and has turned itself into a platform where artists and music lovers share inspiration.
@langaMav and @Zoe_Modiga tribute to #WinnieMandela at the at the Red bull Music Festival #Rbmf #RIPWinnieMadikizelaMandela @Mpho___ pic.twitter.com/Dqg1uE79qB
— City Buzz (@City_Buzz_) April 4, 2018
Follow @City_Buzz_ on Twitter for the latest entertainment news
