Durban: African superstar Mr Eazi will be live in Durban at Ascend rooftop in Umhlanga Ridge, as one the headline acts on 31 May for the second weekend of the annual Zakifo Music Festival which hits Durban’s shores over two consecutive weekends with a series of intimate pop-up bespoke concerts in venues around Durban from 24 May until 1 June.
He will be performing alongside Durban’s own Shekhinah; Kenyan electronic art maestro, Blinky Bill; Tune Recreation Committee – a formidable quintet comprising of some of Cape Town’s finest young musicians; Kid Fonque, a vital part of SA’s electronic music and club culture, and more.
Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade aka Mr Eazi is a Nigerian songwriter, singer and entrepreneur who pioneered a music genre known as “Banku” music – the lovechild of global pop, Ghanaian highlife, hip-hop and Nigerian chord progressions delivered with an old school R&B-like quality and vocals in “Pidgin English”.
Mr Eazi is the embodiment of new African cool, his relevance and authenticity has placed him at the forefront of a global shift in focus to creatives and culture-shapers on the continent. Mr Eazi is known for his pioneering creativity while remaining authentic to his African identity. His music works well with the quirky fun and naive videos by Ghanaian based animator, Poka Studios.
Instrumental in exporting some of the country’s most innovative acts to the rest of the globe, Cape Town-based artist management platform Black Major will be bringing Mr Eazi to South Africa for a string of performances as part of the greater IGODA Network. Black Major has acted as a catalyst for the careers of artists such as Beatenberg, Freshlyground, and Bongeziwe Mabandla. Today they continue to nurture, mentor and champion acts such as Manthe Ribane, DJ Lag and Doowap,
The headline acts for the fifth annual Zakifo Music Festival are American Grammy-Award winning, multi-platinum-selling artist Ben Harper who will be touring SA with his band; and Asa, iconic Nigerian / French singer songwriter and recording artist – both of whom will perform in the glorious Durban Botanic Gardens on Saturday 1 June.
Zakifo offers a wide-ranging line-up of cutting-edge musicians from across the African continent and beyond. To keep Zakifo fresh, contemporary and relevant, this year the festival will occupy some of the city’s most happening venues.
The full line up of performers will be released in due course. Visit festival platforms www.zakifo.com / Instagram: @zakifofest / Twitter: @zakifomusikfest / Facebook: @zakifofest for regular updates. Tickets are available through Howler. Booking for early bird tickets now open.
Music videos: Leg Over and Skintight
Watch documentary: Lagos to London
For more on Mr Eazi visit: www.mreazi.com
EVENT LISTINGS
31 May 2019: Zakifo Music Festival – Ascend Rooftop Umhlanga
Gates @ 15h30
Tickets from R350 (early bird) R450 thereafter
Direct ticket link: http://bit.ly/zakifo31may