The Moretele Park Concert is one of the most- anticipated dates on the South African music calendar. It has a rich history of placing a plethora of revolutionary musicians all on one stage for a day that is best described as “grown”. This Saturday, its 18th anniversary, will be no different.
Under the theme We Are Africa, Drakensberg Promoters explained, through a press release: “This year’s theme of the concert also seeks to address issues of social injustice such as the cruelty and abhorrent treatment of foreign nationals earlier this year and aims to highlight the beauty of diversity and how music can be used as a tool to unite people of all creeds, showing that in diversity, beauty can be found.”
As such, the concert will feature the likes of Oliver Mtukudzi, Caiphus Semenya, Bhudaza, Thandiswa Mazwai, Mango Groove, The Soil and, of course, Nathi.
The Nomvula hitmaker, whose debut album, Buyelekhaya, was certified gold this month, is proud to be sharing a stage with these greats.
“I’m very happy because I get to be a part of those respected and well-loved artists,” he said. “If there are opportunities like this, I have to use them in the right way – meaning wherever I am, I need to leave a mark to say, ‘I was here’.”
He echoes the sentiment of the promoters’ anti-xenophobia theme.
“I am on their side,” Nathi says emphatically. “I am against mistreating foreigners because, at the end, we are all African. We are brothers and sisters.”
The guitar-slinging muso says he looks up to big “brother” and legend, Mtukudzi.
“I’d really love to work with Oliver Mtukudzi,” he confesses. “I love his songwriting and just, his music – even when I don’t understand what he’s saying.”
Having only learnt how to play the guitar a few years ago, this proudly Zulu singer – it’s clear in his music and everyday speech – Nathi admits that it wasn’t necessarily to follow in the footsteps of other great guitarists.
“I found that learning the guitar, especially acoustic, wasn’t that hard,” then he smiles, “and if there’s no electricity, I can still play!”
Not one to be stopped by load- shedding or anything, really, Nathi is on a steady path to the top. He remembers the first time he heard himself on the radio; he didn’t believe he was receiving airplay.
“I had a copy of my album and was at home so when I heard one of my songs playing on the radio, I thought it was from that copy. Until I heard the DJ speak,” his smile is broad now.
Now that Nathi is living his dream, the mononym is intent on bringing his story to the silver screen.
Acting as himself in the movie about his life (the title can’t be revealed as yet), Nathi admits that this will be a new experience for him.
“To me, I feel like I’m living my life all over again (when acting),” he says.
This weekend will also be Nathi’s first appearance at the monumental Moretele Park, so don’t miss it.
l Be at the 18th Moretele Park Tribute Concert on Saturday at Moretele Park, Mamelodi, Pretoria. Tickets at Computicket.