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There are entertainment events and then there are cultural movements. The Corona Sunsets event which took place on Saturday 24 October not only brought various culturally charged activities for guests but also capitalised on the natural environment where the event was held.
A venue that adhered to the theme
Walking into The Fat Olive in Lanseria, we were greeted by branding that also adhered to the theme, matching the ethereal colours adorning the guests.
While it's always aesthetically pleasing when guests adhere to the dress code, there are just too many events in Johannesburg where we are expected to wear ethereal colours. It's now bordering on a lack of originality and, since we are in the summer months (this province has no autumn and spring), it would be nice if hosts would brighten things up and let us play around with colours.
The organisers were very intentional about the "beach", with some of the seating areas featuring beach sand. The "beach" itself was enclosed, but this was still a very nice touch for Johannesburgers as we usually have to board a flight or take a long road trip to dip our toes in the sand.
A true cultural movement
There are cultural movements and then there is Corona Sunsets. As a frequent event attendee, I've noticed how some of these gatherings identify as cultural initiatives when all they mean is just, "We'll throw in some music and food." It’s a tad hyperbolic given how food and music are usually central to most South African gatherings.
Guests at Corona Sunsets were spoilt for choice, with options that included face painting, making their own bracelets, drumming and even a mixologist masterclass. Song and dance are great, but these are things we usually do even in the privacy of our own homes.
When event organisers make such activities available, it heightens the experience and affords guests the opportunity to create something memorable that they get to keep, whether this is a tangible item or a special memory. Today's smartphone era is all about documenting our experiences and being able to reference the content we captured during these moments.
While I was unable to engage with the headlining act Mi Casa, let it not go unsaid how heartwarming it was to witness the band taking guests down memory lane to that afternoon in Maboneng where a jam session would later metamorphose into one of the greatest music outfits of our lifetime.
Not only did the crowd appreciate this familial gesture, but they showed Mi Casa nothing but love when they performed These Streets and other hits that have made them a household name.
MamThug, however, was able to spare a few minutes to share her appreciation for how mainstream and alternative music have gradually integrated and are increasingly borrowing from each other. The BeatsByHer founder and advocate for women and the queer community is not oblivious to the impact of being invited into commercial spaces.
“It’s always really cool when people see how I utilise maybe my superpowers as an alternative DJ with commercial music. But I think we all borrow from each other really. It's all music at the end of the day and if it's good, people are going to dance,” she said.
When she explained how she had no desire to chase after spaces that aren't welcoming to people who look like her or play the music she does, it painted a picture of an individual who is so comfortable in their own skin that her self-esteem is inspiringly admirable.
Her professional observation is that artists can only thrive by supporting each other because, as one of the supporting acts for Mi Casa, she’s cognisant that they too started somewhere. The lesson there is to extend the same ladder to emerging artists that her musical predecessors have extended to her.
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