To celebrate the building of a new memorial to Nelson Mandela in Liverpool’s Princes Park, Africa Oyé will bring South African stars BCUC to the city for a special one-off performance this October.
The seven-piece band’s indigenous funk and high-energy performances have fast made them one of South Africa’s most successful musical exports. Artistic heirs to Philip “Malombo” Tabane and Batsumi, they seek to give a contemporary voice to the ancestral traditions of indigenous peoples. Jazz sounds of 1970s and ‘80s productions have been replaced by hip-hop influences and a punk-rock energy.
The show is co-presented by the memorial campaign group, Mandela8, which was established in 2013, after Nelson Mandela’s passing, to establish a permanent memorial and educational programme as a fitting legacy. The memorial will be installed in Princes Park and officially opened in 2019 by Nelson Mandela’s eldest Daughter Dr Makaziwe “Maki” Mandela.
The city of Liverpool has strong connections to Nelson Mandela, being active in supporting anti-apartheid since the 1960’s and supporting the Free Nelson Mandela campaign and giving Mandela the Freedom of the City in 1994.
The Princes Park installation of which the show will be celebrating, will reflect many aspects of Mandela’s life; his love of gardens and horticulture, his teaching, and his passion for equality and humanity. The installation will provide a space for learning, events and reflection, with plans in place to integrate Mandela’s words into the artwork.
This BCUC show takes place on 23rd October in the heart of the Liverpool’s burgeoning Baltic Triangle and promises to be a night to remember. Doors at District on Jordan Street open at 6:30pm and tickets are available now via Skiddle and SeeTickets.
Edited by Maryanna Rice.
