GIMC was a blast
They also nail it when it comes to getting the number one hype man. MC. T. H. A. B. O has always fitted right with this role. After all, no one wants to attend an event where the MC appears to have been poured with freezing water on a chilly July evening. The perfect fit for an event this big, is someone who will have energy from beginning to end, without dropping the ball.
One of the key elements that have made this event, what it is today, is the fact that in the history of the event, particularly the Music Festival, all the preps are all taken care of ahead of time. The stage and sound, set up through a joint venture of local companies, is usually up and ready to go ahead of time. On Saturday morning, when this reporter passed through the National Stadium at 1100hrs, the stage was ready. Secondly, the line- up slot was also revealed ahead of time, giving those who wanted to attend the event, the option to see the time that their favourite acts will be on stage. And most importantly, whatever happens backstage with regards to organising and seeing to it that the event runs smoothly stays there. One of those who was on the line- up, and who many were holding their breath to see if he would do the honourable thing and turn up, happened to be DJ Maphorisa or Madumane. Last year, Madumane failed to honour his end of the bargain at the Girls love Amapiano concert at Royal Ria in Tlokweng. And so when he was announced as one of the headlining acts, many were not convinced he would turn up. In fact, some even told Pabalinga that he was setting himself up for failure. But lord behold, on Saturday afternoon, he was in town and ready to party. He took to the stage around 1800hrs, and for one solid hour, rocked the National Stadium. Hyping up the audience and giving them one of the best sets for the night, it was a marvel to see how they danced from the start to the end of his set. Having seen how much he is appreciated this side, some are hopeful that he will abandon his no show persona, and honour all of his future appearances locally. Hapex Guru, who is a fan favourite when it comes to Afro Tech was such a marvel. Experiencing his set for Afro Tech lovers was such a delightful experience. A man who knows his audience, and takes his craft seriously, revellers were charged up by his banging set. Another local act who were in their best element happens to be Ancestral Rituals. Hypnotic and energised, the duo that make up Ancestral Rituals have something special going on. Taking the revellers on a trance, the two are destined for great things. Other acts such as Gouveia, and Colastraw did not disappoint, leaving the audience begging for more. Mafikizolo who are celebrating their 25th anniversary in music were also a marvel to watch, although they appeared to glide through the stage. Compared to some of the local acts on the night, they were not as extraordinary as some of the acts that performed on the night. Overall, this event ticked all the right boxes, and is just what those who were looking for a bit of fun needed. Speaking in an interview, the event organiser, Fish Pabalinga, explained that everything went well, and that they were happy with the feedback from the public. “We are happy with how everything went,” he said. He also said that in the history of the event, they have never had an artiste miss out the festival, and that each and every artiste performs.
“This shows that the artiste takes the platform seriously,” he explained.
Meanwhile, he said that one thing that they wish for is a better venue. The National Stadium, limits them in terms of its perimeter boundary. “Inside the stadium, everything is fine, but the issue is the perimeter boundary,” he said.