Press
Release
02 September 2013
For Immediate Release
Johannesburg ...Former Robben Island political prisoner James
Mange is launching the Reggae Moonshine Africa Festival - a dream from behind
bars in Robben Island.
Artists:
James ‘Jungleman’ Mange
Nkulee Dube
Tidal Waves Band
MC:
Adv. Sipho Mantula
Mesh Mapetla
Where: Bassline, Newtown
When: 12th
October 2013
Time: 20:00
Entrance fee:
R120 at the door
This is the official launch of the Reggae Conference and
Festival taking place in Johannesburg late 2014.
The programme and the build-up to the 2014 Festival which
includes other acts from Africa, Jamaica, Reunion Island, US, and UK will be
unveiled mid-year 2014. “We are launching this festival to revive the true
meaning of Reggae music.” This is a call for the revival of reggae music as an
art form; a genre that transcends all ages, genders, races and classes - the
umbilical cord that binds man as one. Reggae music played a pivotal role as an
expression of resistance, fortitude and liberation against apartheid; it freed
people's minds and spurred the might of a collective consciousness openly
across all races in our country.
About James Mange
James Mange went into exile in 1976 to join ANC and
became commander of Umkhonto we Sizwe. He was sentenced to death for high
treason after being arrested in 1978. He spent 12 months on death row. The
sentence was later commuted to 20 years imprisonment on Robben Island of which
he served 13 years before being released on the 27th April 1991. During his
imprisonment he formed a band and taught music to the inmates on Robben Island.
The band played on special occasions like New Year celebration for the
political prisoners. In exile James was prominent as one of the founder members
of the Nova Katenga Cultural Committee. In 1991 after being released from
Robben Island James and his band the Whiplashes Played festivals like Big Bash,
ANC rallies, in France and Children of Africa in Nigeria.
For interviews and more information, kindly send us an
email.
Reggae Moonshine Africa Festival
info@reggaemoonshine.co.za
www.reggaemoonshine.co.za
