#MandelaDay: A song for Madiba – VIDEO
JOHANNESBURG – Local rapper teams up with legends to pay tribute to Madiba.
A Johannesburg artist is paying tribute to Nelson Mandela for the former president’s centenary through song.
Rapper Don Dada, born Menelik Nesta Gibbons, launched a remix of his double platinum song, Viva Mandela, on 24 April at the launch of the Mandela Day centenary. The remix song features the legendary musical group Mahotella Queens.
Read: Don Dada’s Viva Mandela makes the right noises
The original song was commissioned as the 2017 Mandela Day track but the project fell through when last year was dedicated to anti-apartheid activist Oliver Tambo. Don Dada’s song was released on 18 July last year and after four months of pushing on various social media platforms, the song earned a double platinum status in December last year.
The song was created with the support from Content Connect Africa, MTN SA and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. With the success of Viva Mandela, he teamed up with the Mahotella Queens for the remix. He said, “The collaboration was amazing because it’s 50 years worth of experience brought into the song.”
Don Dada said that the song was inspired by Long Walk to Freedom and an attempt to create a biographical tribute to Nelson Mandela. He said, “It taught me so much because Mandela’s ethics and life included everyone and told us that we should do more.”
Read: Nelson Mandela Day: A timeline of Madiba’s 100 years
He added that Mandela’s story is one that acts as an inspiration for many in South Africa. “I think that Mandela Day teaches us that it should not only be 67 minutes to help others – it should be all year round.”
VIDEO FOR VIVA MANDELA:
Details: Layla Gibbons 083 312 6426.
