DanceAfrika provides a platform for DJs and electronic performances in the SA Dance Space. Their aim is to create immersive dance music experiences. Dance Afrika is partnering with Bassline Fest to create a 360 immersive sound visual experience for festival goers featuring artists from across the globe including DJ Sebb (Reunion) , South Africa’s Tamara Dey, Kamanga, Pablo, Shamiso & JUMA, Samuel Miller (UK), Si- Noir, FiNE (Australia).Lesotho-born, South African resident, Maleh is also on the Bassline Fest lineup. Maleh has over 20 years in the live music industry with her recent album, titled Lerato Laka which, was released in February 2022. This recent body of work was produced by Nigerian-born artist Victor Ikeigbo aka ‘Goldsmithonthebeat’ and has expanded the artist’s market reach by brilliantly fusing the customary African drum patterns and raw basslines of West Africa, with the smooth classic soulful sounds and melodies that are distinct to Southern African music. The album has already won Maleh a Basadi in Women African Award.

From East Africa comes Tanzanian “badass” MC Kadilida & her Producer Jay Mitta. Hailing from the vibrant city of Dar Es Salaam, Kadilida stands as a pioneering force in the realm of African electronic music. Teaming up with Kadilida is the visionary producer Jay Mitta, Kadilida and Jay Mitta have embarked on a meteoric journey, igniting dance floors around the globe. Together, they have become synonymous with the electrifying spirit of Singeli. With its blistering 300 beats per minute tempo, and, reminiscent of Western electronic music genres such as gabber and happy hardcore, Singeli embodies the raw essence of African rave culture.

Adding some more spice into the talent mix is Moroccan Rita Kamale who is a multi-disciplinary artist based between London and Casablanca (Morocco). Along with being a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and producer, she is a DJ in parallel. Her sound is best categorised as Alternative RnB/Rap. An experimenter and true tempo traveller, each song is in its realm. She describes herself as being “somewhere in between a singer and a rapper”, basking in Neo-soul and Moroccan ancestral melodies but unafraid to body an 808-heavy hip-hop beat.

“Happy Africa Day” says Bassline Fest’s Paige  Holmes, “Bassline Fest is welcoming everyone in the city to come celebrate with song, dance, food and fun. There will be an African artisanal market selling all manner of exquisitely created African food, arts and crafts, as well as bars and other food and drink stalls. ”

Bassline, 30 years and counting. “It’s almost unbelievable that three decades have passed since the Bassline started.” Paige Holmes says. “Bassline is a much-loved music brand in Gauteng, which turns 30 years old this year and was born in the year South Africa became free. If your parents and Grandparents went to the Bassline Jazz Club in Melville in the years 1994 to 2003, then their children & grandchildren will have gone to the Bassline Music Hall in Newtown between 2004 and 2017. Most people in Gauteng have been to one of the Bassline’s previous venues or current concerts and Festivals at least once in their lives.”

“Bassline is an Afro-centric brand that feeds on the popular culture of Jozi. Jozi is a gift that keeps giving, as it is the most culturally relevant city in Africa and therefore has been the perfect city to buoy up the Bassline’s many incarnations to its current; being Bassline Live, Bassline Fest and Bassline Artist Management. With a strong education angle.

We look forward to our 50th anniversary!” says Brad Holmes.

The Bassline Fest is grateful to its supporting partner the Department of Sport Arts & Culture for coming on board in the support of the live music industry and in celebration of Africa Month and 30 Years of Democracy, also its associate partner Castle Lite for their amazing Gig Rig technical support. BET Africa, TimesLive & Music In Africa for covering the Media partnership ensuring that the Fest is well broadcast and shared.

This year sees the first year that the Bassline partners with a training partner, the French Institute of South Africa, with their co-produced ‘Live Music Lab’, enabling 15 trainees to get onsite shadowing experience with live music practitioners working on the festival. This training program is also aligned with the Fete de la Musique held on the 22nd of June at Victoria Yards,  where the same trainees will further get more onsite training after learning from an in-depth music business training program also held in June. We also say thank you to our conference partners, ACCES & the Africa Rising Music Conference who are proud to be collaborating with Bassline Fest, The IGODA network which is the first Southern African Festivals tour circuit to be created with Bassline as a founder member, bringing together the finest music festivals within primarily Southern Africa. IGODA Festival Circuit partners with Bushfire in Eswatini, Sakifo in Reunion and Azgo in Mozambique.

“This powerhouse of female talent, from across our beautiful continent, ensures that this year’s Africa Day Celebration stays true to its dedication to WOMEN, celebrating the mothers, sisters & daughters who have the resilience, nurturing, courage, creativity and tenacity that keeps them going, their families going and in so doing, the continent going. ” Says Creative Director Paige Holmes.