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Two of Africa’s finest musicians will set the Constitution Hill on fire in celebration of Africa Day on Saturday.
Nigerian singer, songwriter and pioneer of Banku music – a fusion sound he describes as a mixture of Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian chord progressions and patterns – Oluwatosin Ajibade, better known by his stage name Mr Eazi, with Jailer hitmaker ASA have promised nothing but fireworks.
“I am going to bring massive heat to the Bassline Fest stage,” said Mr Eazi.
ASA could not hide her excitement about coming to the country and also said she would give a performance of a lifetime.
“I am also very excited to perform my new single, The Beginning, from my next album and I will be performing it live for the first time,” she said.
The two will share the stage with 10 other entertainers: Dobet Gnahoré (Ivory Coast), Blinky Bill (Kenya), Kommanda Obbs (Lesotho), Granmah (Mozambique), Alibombo (Columbia), Lindigo (Réunion), Isabel Novella, (Mozambique), TRC (Tune and Recreation Committee) featuring Mandla Mlangeni and Buhlebendalo Mda from The Soil.
Founder and director of Bassline Festival Brad Holmes said each year the artist line-up changes “to accommodate the vast wealth of talent we have on the continent”.
“The artist choice varies from popular ones and also introduces artists to a new market because we believe that music serves as a unifier of different cultures. By exposing Africans to new music we hope to tear down the borders that seem to divide us and bring everybody together in celebration of our African identity.”
Mr Eazi said he decided to be part of the festival to support the continent and the culture of its people.
“I love my continent and I am so proud of where African music is going and how far it has come. And what better day to do this than on Africa Day.”
He said Africa Day was a remarkable day “not just for me as an African artist, but for the continent at large”. “It signifies the importance of building a better Africa and celebrating our diverse, unique, edgy, beautiful and vibrant culture and tradition. It is a day that not only looks at celebrating how far Africa has come, it is also a day to reflect on how far Africa still has to go in building a unified and decolonised continent.
“And with festivals such as the Bassline we as proudly African artists have a great opportunity to use music as a tool to leap across language barriers and unite people from quite different cultural backgrounds.”
Some of the South African artists he would like to collaborate with include Sun-El Musician, Cassper Nyovest, AKA and Kwesta. “I love their flavour, their vibe and their unique sound.”
ASA said her fourth album would be released soon.
“The first single has been warmly received and the love has been amazing. I feel lucky and blessed.” .
The festival starts at 2pm. Those looking to attend R250 early bird tickets are sold out, but you can still get tickets at howler.co.za for only R350 and R450 for golden circle and R150 for kids under 12.
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