Patience Bambalele

Patience Bambalele

Mamelodi once again came to a standstill when music lovers descended on Tshwane for the yearly Tribute to SA Music Heroes Concert.

Thousands of music lovers came from all over South Africa to witness the cream of South African artists all on one stage.

The festival's line-up featured artists such as Linda Kekana, Hugh Masekela, Ringo Madlingozi, Malaika, Jonas Gwangwa, Letta Mbulu, Caiphus Semenya, Busi Mhlongo, Mankuku Winston Ngozi, Siphokazi and Nothembi Mkhwebane among others.

Though the Tribute to Heroes Concert was a huge success, security was disappointing. Local security companies need to invest in training their personnel in how to handle guests at festivals.

It was shocking to see how badly some security guards were treating journalists and artists. One of the security guards pushed an international artist like a demon.

When asked why he did that he said: "The singer was not labelled and looked like another ordinary person."

For the first time the festival ran on time. The event started early in very warm weather, with development bands playing, while jazz lovers were arriving in dribs and drabs.

For many hours people were just enjoying the picnic day, eating and drinking until Siphokazi came and shook them with her hit song Amacala.

After Siphokazi it was serious jazz and fans started to show signs of boredom.

But things changed when Ndebele maskandi veteran Nothembi Mkhwebana hit the stage.

The real party started when Jimmy Dludlu and trombonist Jonas Gwangwa got going.

However, Letta and Caiphus really took the festival to another level with a fire-spitting performance. The evergreen Mbulu did not disappoint with her band.

Malaika, performing for the first time since the death of Jabu Ndaba, gave a lukewarm performance.

However, the highlight of the day was Busi Mhlongo who performed as if there was no tomorrow.