Nelson Mandela | Triple M Entertainment

Deezer celebrates Nelson Mandela 100 with a tribute playlist by Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse

18 July 2018 – Deezer, the world’s most personal music service is celebrating Nelson Mandela on his centenary birthday by hosting a tribute playlist created by the renowned Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse.

Mabuse, a legendary figure in African music, first rose to prominence in the 70s with his band Harari and later developed a name for himself as a solo artist. One of his best known songs was the global hit ‘BurnOut’ in the 80s.

The playlist takes the listener on a captivating musical journey through the life of Nelson Mandela. It was compiled by Mabuse, who consulted with Mandela’s family and friends to ensure that the music would be relevant and accurate. The playlist also features commentary by Mabuse, which was recorded in Soweto at his home.

‘I have tried to tell the story of the music that Madiba loved. The Playlist excludes the time in prison obviously, as Madiba would not have had exposure to music in that time. We have focused on the music we know he loved before and after that period’, says Mabuse. ‘This recording was really an emotional journey for me, but an incredible opportunity to document these memories.’

The playlist features the music the young Mandela loved, such as The Manhattan Brothers, Solomon Linda, Brenda Fassie and Miriam Makeba. We also listen to struggle songs, Chicco, Johnny Clegg, Hugh Masekela and Yvonne Chaka Chaka. The playlist also includes ‘Mandela’ by Zahara, one of the younger artists who caught Madiba’s ear.

Mabuse also offers stories of his own songs such as Shikisha, a song greatly beloved by the former President.

‘I was delighted to share my thoughts and hope the listeners enjoyed the musical journey’ comments Mabuse. ‘Madiba did enjoy music immensely and we all have a purpose where ever we are in the world to celebrate culture and to learn from different cultures and music forms and styles’.

This playlist was inspired by the Nelson Mandela 100 campaign calling on corporates and individuals to act as sources of inspiration and engage in conversation and action.

https://www.nelsonmandela.org/nelson-mandela-100

-ENDS-

About Deezer

Deezer connects 14 million monthly active users around the world to 53 million tracks.

Available in over 180 countries worldwide, Deezer gives instant access to one of the

largest and most diverse global music streaming catalogue on any device. Deezer is the

only music streaming service with Flow, the unique mix of all your old favourites and

new recommendations in one ever-changing stream. Based on an intuitive, proprietary

algorithm and created by people who love music, it’s the only place to hear all your

music back-to- back with fresh discoveries tailored to you. Deezer is available on your

favorite device, including smartphone, tablet, PC, laptop, home sound system, connected

car or smart TV.

Making music happen since 2007, Deezer is a privately held company, headquartered in

Paris with offices in London, Berlin, Miami and around the world. Deezer is available as

a free download for iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows devices or on the web at

deezer.com. For the latest news on Deezer go to Deezer.com/company/press

from IOL

By NONTOBEKO MTSHALI

Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse performed Struggle songs during the 50th commemoration of Nelson Mandela's "I Am Prepared To Die" speech at Liliesleaf farm in Rivonia. Photo: Nokuthula Mbatha

Johannesburg – Fifty years ago on Sunday, Nelson Mandela stood in the dock during the Rivonia Trial.

He said: “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

Mandela and nine other men were on trial following a raid at Liliesleaf farm in Rivonia in July 1963.

The speech he made at the Pretoria Supreme Court has become a classic. It was commemorated on Sunday at Liliesleaf, which is now a heritage site.

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, who is chairman of the Liliesleaf Trust, and Rivonia Trial accused Andrew Mlangeni attended the commemoration.

Award-winning actor Sello Maake ka Ncube gave the speech on Sunday as it was delivered by Madiba in 1964.

Musician Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse and his band also performed at the commemoration and sang political songs. They also lightened the mood with the vocalist and multi-instrumentalist’s legendary Burnout as well as jazz tunes.

Speaking to The Star on the importance of such commemorations, Liliesleaf chief executive Nicholas Wolpe said even though the speech was among the most important speeches the world icon ever gave, too little attention was paid to it and other similarly important historic moments.

He said Mandela’s speech, like Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech in August of that same year, were similar in context. Yet, in South Africa, there was very little interest in commemorating Mandela’s speech.

“Martin Luther King’s speech was covered the world over, including by the South African media. You couldn’t get away from news channels on that day… and here we are, we talk about supposedly the greatest 20th century icon, a leader, a man who inspired the whole world even in death, and most probably the most important speech that he ever gave, and there’s very little interest.

“If you think about the context of the speech, when it was given, what was said and you do a comparison between his speech and Martin Luther King’s speech, they’re very similar,” Wolpe said.

“The essence of that speech (by Mandela) goes to the root and the basis of our Struggle. It provided the platform to articulate to not only South Africa, but to the rest of the world, what the essence of our Struggle was all about and what we were trying to achieve, and the objective behind that Struggle. And that is why it’s important that we commemorate it.”

Wolpe said the fact there was little interest in commemorating this event meant it was not too far-fetched to believe that, 20 years from now, Mandela and the others, and what they fought for, would also fizzle out of memory.

He said some young people today were aware of OR Tambo only as the name of an airport, and associated Rivonia only with a main road in Sandton.

“If a speech that he gave 50 years ago is so easily forgotten, what is to say that Nelson won’t be forgotten?” Wolpe asked.

nontobeko.mtshali@inl.co.za

The Star

Triple M Entertainment

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