Fest recreates protesting 80s

01 July 2010 - 02:00
By Gugu Sibiya

AFTER wowing Mafikeng two weeks ago the Legends Music Festival moves on.

AFTER wowing Mafikeng two weeks ago the Legends Music Festival moves on.

The historically rich town of Taung will host the event at its sports ground on Saturday from 10am.

The show brings to life voices from the 1980s when people lived for music. Artists then performed as if that was their last show. Perhaps what intrigued the insatiable crowds, who would dance until the wee hours, was the disguised, and sometimes obvious political songs such as We Miss You Manelo, Black President, Motherland, Good Black Woman and many others. They mobilised the oppressed to reflect on and renew their vows to defeat apartheid.

The stadiums would be packed with Afrikaans-speaking policemen, who did not understand the veiled messages in the protest songs.

Reviving those memories are the bubblegum kings and queens who are often marginalised at festivals because they are said to be past their sell-by date. But the interest in and demand for these songs tells a different story.

PJ Powers, Steve Kekana, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Funky Masike and Winnie Khumalo sing the legendary Brenda Fassie songs. Then there are Om Alec Khaoli, Dan Tshanda and Splash, Patricia Majalisa, Sydney of Bomama's baby, CJB of Neo Maphala and Cyril Nkosi, Dan Tshanda, Dan Nkosi, also known as Ganda Ganda, Ebony and Condry Ziqubu.

Amazingly admission is free.