[category]
[title]
Earlier today, Time Out reported that local reggae star Don Dada would be opening the stage for international icon Sean Paul, but that was only half the story.
Kwaito legends Boom Shaka, who electrified South Africa with their breakout hit "It’s About Time", are reportedly the lead supporting act for the Pretoria leg of Sean Paul’s concert next month.
Anyone who either recalls how Boom Shaka shook the entire country or has streamed their videos in this digital era just knows this is going to be a cocktail of musical nostalgia and dancefloor energy.
Dancehall being an energised genre in its own right, the stage will be set ablaze on 4 December. Knowing Boom Shaka, you’ve got to understand that "they are coming with a different style" and on the evening in question, the crowd is going to "Gcwala".
Before Sean Paul raises the "Temperature" and brings fire to the stage, Thembi Seete, Junior Sokhela and Theo Nhlengethwa are going to warm up the crowd with their special greeting in true Mzansi style. It’s common knowledge in this country that you simply cannot commence any task before passing a "Thobela" to the people around you.
Boom Shaka, whose music was rooted in "Lerato", helped shape the sound of South African popular music, inspiring the sound of global superstar Tyla that is making waves here and beyond our shores.
Contrary to popular social media belief, the Grammy Award-winning star’s aesthetic, from her hair down to her styled outfits, is deeply influenced by late Boom Shaka member Lebo Mathosa, who tragically lost her life in a car accident in 2006.
It’s "No Lie" that the "Gimme the Light" hitmaker shaped the musical landscape in his own country, dropping hits that stuck to fans "Like Glue" for three decades.
A collaboration between Sean Paul and Boom Shaka, therefore, is going to be nothing short of amazing because, as the pop outfit said in the late 1990s, "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now".
Boom Shaka says it’s going to be WICKED!
Junior is the reggae component of the Boom Shaka outfit. He describes the opportunity to open for Sean Paul as a major stamp of approval. The band’s career having kicked off a few years before that of the "(When You Gonna) Give It Up to Me" hitmaker, this recognition is something Junior and his band members are grateful for.
In 1994, just a year after dropping "It’s About Time", Boom Shaka opened for the iconic Shabba Ranks. Two years later, they opened for Shaggy and Buju Banton is also among the reggae stars they have warmed the crowd for.
its About time on Spotify
“So after all these years, it's an honour to still be recognised by trailblazers of dancehall music. I started dancehall with Prophets of the City and carried it with me into Boom Shaka,” Junior recalls.
He says integrating this genre into kwaito earned him the nickname Rasta-Pantsula from fans who were aware of the dancehall foundation in Boom Shaka’s sound.
Dancehall is high-energy and even though Boom Shaka is a kwaito outfit, their music was also highly energised. Junior, therefore, says fans should expect a nuclear detonation when these two power-station sounds collide at SunBet Arena next month.
READ: SA reggae star Don Dada to open for Sean Paul at SunBet Arena
The outfit has been cast back into the limelight in recent history with Tyla taking Lebo Mathosa's influences to the global stage. The Sean Paul collaboration essentially means Boom Shaka is officially going to be linked to two global stars simultaneously.
“To be honest with you, it's a blessing and we are very grateful to the people who have always supported us. It's not very easy to survive through three decades of music and still be performing and giving massive energy.”
From Millennials to Gen Z and Alpha, it’s going to be multiple generations of music lovers, two iconic sounds and one night that promises to be anything but ordinary, or in Junior’s words, WICKED!
Follow Time Out Johannesburg on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram! While you're at it, sign up for our newsletter to receive even more of the best of your city.
TIME OUT JOHANNESBURG RECOMMENDS:
📍 The best things to do in Johannesburg
🏨 The best hotels in Johannesburg
🍽 The best restaurants in Johannesburg
🛏️ Where to stay in Johannesburg
📢 Latest news from Johannesburg