26 January 2016
South African music duo Mafikizolo was in the Swiss town of Davos on Saturday
night to perform at the gala dinner to mark the closing of the annual World
Economic Forum (WEF) gathering.
Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza were invited by the founder and executive
chairman of WEF, Klaus Schwab, after he saw their performance at the WEF Africa
regional meeting in June 2015, which took place in Cape Town.
Arts and culture is a critical vehicle through which the spirit of South Africa's
national brand is conveyed within the country and beyond its borders. As such the
role of arts and culture in building national cohesion and the economy is recognised
in the National Development Plan.
Mafikizolo's sound is a fusion of Afro-pop, kwela, and marabi mixed with a little
trance and house.
The group released its debut self-titled album in 1997, followed by Music
Revolution in 1999. However, it was the 2013 album,
Reunited,
that got the South African music industry buzzing. It scooped numerous accolades,
including three Metro FM awards, four South African Music Awards (Sama) and two
MTV Africa trophies.
Watch the video of Happiness, the song that earned Mafikizolo a
Best Collaboration Sama.Watch the video of Khona, the song that won four Samas,
including Best Selling Full-Track Download.
Mafikizolo duo Theo Kgosinkwe (left) and Nhlanhla Nciza (right) flank South African president Jacob Zuma ahead of their performance at the World Economic Forum gala dinner on Saturday night. (Image: SAnews.gov)
