Freshlyground to rock city, township

AS NELSON Mandela Bay residents are still recuperating from a heavy musical dose injected into them by new kid on the block, Zahara, last month during her two sold out concerts in Port Elizabeth, another national top act – Freshlyground – is expected in the Bay this month to now, as it were, neutralise the musical hangover.

Award-winning Freshlyground, who ranked 31 on Forbes' list of the 40 most powerful celebrities in Africa, will rock Nelson Mandela Bay for two nights in two different venues. On November 23 they will hot up The Boardwalk amphitheatre and on November 24 – as part of their countrywide tour which takes them to six townships, including New Brighton – they will take the stage at Nangoza Jebe Hall. The tour will be to celebrate the group’s 10 years of music success. This tour is unique in that the performances will be in townships and small towns as opposed to the group’s usual big stages. 

“We love Freshlyground in Nelson Mandela Bay – not only because Zolani is from our great city, but because they are truly an African band and reflect the diversity and soul of our country,” said Mandlakazi Skefile, NMBT chief executive.

With their mixture of laidback and unique fast foot-stomping sounds, the music sensation will no doubt leave the revellers shouting for more. As always has been the case in the past when big groups come to the city, music lovers from across the province are expected to throng to the new-look entertainment village to listen to the internationally-acclaimed group.

Well known for their hugely successful smash-hits such as Doo-Bee Do-Bee and Nomvula, Freshlyground, featuring their petit lead singer Zolani Mahola, will definitely not disappoint. The multi-cultural group is a truly resemblance of the Rainbow Nation. Explaining the group’s success, Mahola say: “If it feels good, we run with it. Music is about feeling the beat and lyrics. I think it’s because we don’t fit the norm that we are still around. We don’t prescribe to the norm. It’s time we give back to the community. We have wanted to go to the townships for a while.”    

Growing up in the streets of KwaZakhele and New Brighton, Mahola says being away from home for very long periods has been the hardest part of stardom for her.  However, she does not regret it as it is through her travels and experiences that she found a jewel – her voice.

With its clean beaches, friendly people, surrounding game parks which are far much closer to the city centre, Nelson Mandela Bay has become the favourite destination for visitors – both local and international. Besides the recent two, both sold out, concerts by Zahara, the Bay just recently hosted another award-winning singer/actress KB, who also performed at the Boardwalk.  This year it has hosted big names from George Benson to Neil Diamond and James Blunt, securing its space as a top stage for global performance icons.