MASERU — South Africa’s top entertainers Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP) and DJ Waxxy are set to rock the kingdom this Saturday when they headline the Winter Warmer Festival set for Lerakong.
Award-winning ragga artist Buffalo Souljah, from Zimbabwe, will be in town as well.
Tickets are already on sale for the show, which is also scheduled to feature local stars Miss P, DJ Tseko, Counterforce, DJ Thabi, Chocolate Soul and DJ Phakzino.
The night will also see MRC, Mojo, Him I Am and Isosolace getting on stage.
Organisers of the Winter Warmer Festival said the first 100 ladies will enter the show free of charge.
Each ticket will come with a compilation CD, Winter Warmer Volume 1, the organisers said.
A spokesman for the festival said arrangements were being made with taxi operators to provide transport from the city and several neighbourhoods to Lerakong, Masianokeng, about 15km from the CBD.
He also stressed that tight security had been put in place for the show.
“No weapons shall be permitted into the venue,” the spokesman said.
“Security will be tight, with a large contingent of police and private bouncers who will not tolerate any level of hooliganism.”
The festival comes hard on the heels of performances in the last two weeks by South African artists Lulo Café and DJ Ganyani who came to launch their CDs in the kingdom.
But the organisers of the Winter Warmer Festival believe the weekend show will be memorable.
HHP, whose real name is Jabulani Tsambo, is a renowned performer who raps in different South African languages, although primarily Setswana.
He also sings in Sesotho and isiZulu.
HPP’s hits include the smash single from his O Mang Reloaded album Tswaka as well as Jabba and Tshwara from YBA 2 NW.
The South African star is also expected to belt out tunes from the album Acceptance Speech as well as some yet-to-be-released songs.
DJ Waxxy is also expected to dish out the sort of performance that has made him one of South Africa’s most sought-after wax masters of cutting-edge R&B and dancehall ragga.
One of Jimmy Jatt’s protégés, DJ Waxxy started dee-jaying in 1991 and went to South Africa in 2001 through a DJ exchange programme between YFM and Rhythm, a radio station in Nigeria.
DJ Waxxy has spun discs around the world and shared booths with the likes of Jazzy Jeff, Kut Killa and triple world DMC champ DJ Craze, although he counts his best gig as the one in Brussels, Belgium, alongside Sean Paul in 2003.
He is a resident DJ on Channel O’s O-Boma and The 411 and has been instrumental in showcasing Bass-ment, a groundbreaking show which not only mixes audio but video as well.
Those who followed the reality TV show Big Brother Africa III might remember Buffalo Souljah’s unforgettable performance during one eviction night show.
The Zimbabwean star, whose real name is Thabani Ndlovu, won the best dancehall ragga video award for his song Bubble Your Bums at the 2008 Channel O Africa Music Video Awards.
The hit also bagged him the best newcomer video accolade at the awards.
But the local performers are unlikely to be faxed by the CVs of the visiting artists.
They are likely to be eager to prove that they also have what it takes to be among the best in southern Africa.
The festival promises to be a massive party.
