Coffee and a jol at the top of the town
Take the Princess of Africa, a son of Soweto whose music crossed racial lines during our most turbulent days and a bandana-wearing DJ with a global hit. Throw in the host of our longest-running breakfast TV show, one of the land’s funniest chubbies and an Afrikaans boytjie who kits out some of our most famous celebs.
Perch them on a building overlooking the Johannesburg CBD and you’ve got a jol with some of those stars performing their biggest hits.
Not a bad way to spend the eve of Heritage Day. The occasion was the 50th birthday party for Nestlé Ricoffy, the instant coffee brand that is as South African as biltong and chakalaka. It was held on the 15th floor of Hallmark House in downtown Joburg on Thursday afternoon.
Arriving outside the building, which once housed many clothing factories but now aims to be a chic and hip hotel but doesn’t quite get it right, I found myself joining other guests lining up to take a rapid antigen test. As I wait the six minutes for my negative results, I hear a voice ask: “Why are you not saying hello to your mother?”
Turning around, I recognise Yvonne Chaka Chaka who along with her younger sister, Refilwe Thabethe, was waiting to be pre-event screened. I remind Mama Yvonne that her Backing Vocalists and Session Musicians awards in March last year was the last function I attended before the pandemic changed our socialising lives.
The singer and philanthropist confides that she was a bundle of nerves that day, constantly contacting “the presidency” for updates.
On to more upbeat matters.
The lady known as the Princess of Africa shows off her coif, letting me know she’s testing products from her soon to be launched natural hair products line.
Into the building and the lift to the 15th floor. Burly bouncers verify our Covid-19 negative statuses and we head onto the rooftop where waiters proffer Ricoffy iced coffees.
Not a coffee drinker, even if it’s a chicory blend, I head to the bar to pick up a G&T before catching up with Saint-Francis Tohlang, Nestlé’s corporate communications & public affairs director for South and East Africa. Saint-Francis recently ticked off an item that’s on my bucket list: witnessing the great Serengeti wildebeest migration.
On to saying hello to another face, Martin Myers, the Music Exchange founder who is also Sipho Hotstix Mabuse’s manager.
As we head around the corner of the venue with its 360-degree views, we are treated to Sipho, who turns 70 the day after the local government elections on November 1, performing with his band.
When they move on to Sipho’s biggest anthem, the 1980s anthem Burnout, we are given a musical treat: the legendary muso’s 19-year-old son, Biko, gets up on stage to rap alongside his dad.
That’s the African Princess and the Soweto son, on to the chubby funnyman and the breakfast host as Jason Goliath and Leanne Manas head onto the stage after Sipho’s set to welcome us as the day’s hosts.
“We just witnessed your son twisting your legacy and showing dad is just the opening act,” quips Jason before adding, “This is easily the most South African event I’ve been to.”
You would be hard-pressed to disagree.
As we snack on South African-inspired fare like mini bunny chows and gourmet samoosas, I spot a crowd full of South African identities, from former Goldman Sachs head Colin Coleman, recently back from lecturing at Yale in the US, to Thembi Seete, the actress and performer who came to fame as a member of Boom Shaka.
Then there’s the duo responsible for Ndihamba Nawe, the song played at every South African wedding. That’s Nhlanhla Nciza and Theo Kgosinkwe from Mafikizolo.
And here’s a scoop: Nhlanhla tells me that in the coming few days the group will be dropping a new single, Mamezala, from their new album Idwala.
In another part of the room I spot a friendly face, Kgaogelo “Master KG” Moagi, who gave the world Jerusalema and its viral dance challenge.
Finally, I catch up with a designer who I first met when he was just 17 and who has gone on to dress everyone from Bonang Matheba to Thuli Madonsela. Gert-Johan Coetzee recently announced he was divorcing his husband of eight years, Vicky Visagie.
Social chinwagging done, I head out and am handed a goodie bag that includes a fabric bucket hat designed by Gert emblazoned with typically South African words and phrases and a limited edition can of the coffee designed by rising illustrator Karabo Poppy.