R&B artists discover SA

29 October 2015 - 02:17 By Leonie Wagner

It almost seems as if news that apartheid has ended has only just reached international R&B singers. Dru Hill and Sisqo are the latest to announce tours to South Africa. The latter will visit in December.Sisqo, who's 2015 album, Last Dragon, got a mediocre reception, had the 1999 hit Thong Song.Dru Hill was big when downloading meant recording a song on a cassette.They aren't the first who will tick "tour South Africa" off their bucket lists. Other '90s greats who have wowed fans are Toni Braxton, BabyFace and Tamia.According to Trevor Zungu, concert promoter and marketing executive at BuzzE, an events company, nostalgia and a growing black middle class are drivers of the demand for '90s R&B concerts."As much as we have the new artists, these guys' music is timeless. Their popularity may have faded but their music hasn't. The pre-born free babies love their music."[Black] people who grew up in the 90s can now afford to buy a ticket and don't have to save; they aren't worried about budget," said Zungu.Earlier this year Braxton and BabyFace - both popular in the '90s - performed to sold-out crowds in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and an extra night had to be added to their Johannesburg tour.Zungu said: "South Africans have been starved of R&B for such a long time. What we've also seen is that the artists themselves love coming here. They get to feel like superstars again."Big Concerts CEO Attie Van Wyk said his company would consider promoting an artist only if they were big.Big Concerts has on separate occasions promoted Keith Sweat and Joe, who Van Wyk said were viable because they were part of a festival with a number of other artists.Zungu said his company "responded to the consumer demand" for Dru Hill and Sisqo.Van Wyk said Big Concerts was looking at bringing Stevie Wonder and Usher to South Africa next year...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.