Maxwell hopes that lightning strikes the same place twice.
Over five years ago he performed his new single Pretty Wings from his album for the first time in Bloemfontein. It went on to burn up the world charts and set him back to his glory days of the 1990s.
When he performs in Johannesburg tomorrow at the BET Experience Africa, he will again premiere his newest music, and he is hoping it will push him up the charts again.
"South Africa has proved to be my lucky charm," Maxwell says.
"I like the South African audience too. You guys might as well be on stage with me, the energy is beautiful and amazing.
"I see the response and dancing and it's like 'oh my goodness', it's just incredible. A lot of American artists don't go out that much, but I like coming here as much as possible for the energy."
On his last visit things went haywire when Nelson Mandela died in the middle of his tour. But with quick thinking and rejigging, the event was saved.
"We had to re-change the entire show so that we celebrate him and his energy. It was difficult in some ways, because while people wanted to have a good time it also had to be a eulogy concert of sorts."
Maxwell says he had met Mandela before and knew his grandsons and some of his family members through his visits.
He is happy to be coming on the BET ticket.
"I'm grateful to come back and celebrate and be doing it with BET, who launched my career. BET was the first to play my music 20 years ago and they made me feel included and guided my movements."
He says he is in a good space personally.
"Like life and death, things have happened - the loss of my cousin and grandmother was very difficult. It has been interesting, but I'm so much better than before. I'm writing from a place of joy."
l Speaking to Time Out, Mary J Blige says she is ready to give her fans her whole self.
"I'm really excited about this performance. The fans will be getting a whole lot of me because I'm coming down with just my band and backing vocalists," Blige tells me.
"It's a two-hour set, so I'll be playing all the fans' favourite songs. All the stuff from the 90s that we grew up on," says Blige.
Raphael Saadiq, who'll be on the continent for the first time, says he even watched documentaries to learn more about Africa and its people.
"I've heard a lot of great things about South Africa from friends who've been to the country. I really can't wait."
He says song selection has been a headache. "I was really confused about what I'll be playing while down there because I don't know what people want to hear or what they like there."
Maxwell, Mary J ready to rock BET
Maxwell hopes that lightning strikes the same place twice.
Over five years ago he performed his new single Pretty Wings from his album for the first time in Bloemfontein. It went on to burn up the world charts and set him back to his glory days of the 1990s.
When he performs in Johannesburg tomorrow at the BET Experience Africa, he will again premiere his newest music, and he is hoping it will push him up the charts again.
"South Africa has proved to be my lucky charm," Maxwell says.
"I like the South African audience too. You guys might as well be on stage with me, the energy is beautiful and amazing.
"I see the response and dancing and it's like 'oh my goodness', it's just incredible. A lot of American artists don't go out that much, but I like coming here as much as possible for the energy."
On his last visit things went haywire when Nelson Mandela died in the middle of his tour. But with quick thinking and rejigging, the event was saved.
"We had to re-change the entire show so that we celebrate him and his energy. It was difficult in some ways, because while people wanted to have a good time it also had to be a eulogy concert of sorts."
Maxwell says he had met Mandela before and knew his grandsons and some of his family members through his visits.
He is happy to be coming on the BET ticket.
"I'm grateful to come back and celebrate and be doing it with BET, who launched my career. BET was the first to play my music 20 years ago and they made me feel included and guided my movements."
He says he is in a good space personally.
"Like life and death, things have happened - the loss of my cousin and grandmother was very difficult. It has been interesting, but I'm so much better than before. I'm writing from a place of joy."
l Speaking to Time Out, Mary J Blige says she is ready to give her fans her whole self.
"I'm really excited about this performance. The fans will be getting a whole lot of me because I'm coming down with just my band and backing vocalists," Blige tells me.
"It's a two-hour set, so I'll be playing all the fans' favourite songs. All the stuff from the 90s that we grew up on," says Blige.
Raphael Saadiq, who'll be on the continent for the first time, says he even watched documentaries to learn more about Africa and its people.
"I've heard a lot of great things about South Africa from friends who've been to the country. I really can't wait."
He says song selection has been a headache. "I was really confused about what I'll be playing while down there because I don't know what people want to hear or what they like there."
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