The duo will replace Nigerian singer and songwriter Nneka, who was previously announced as the headliner in March. Also added to the line-up is South African house producer Da Capo, who will headline the Ballantine’s Firefly Stage alongside Daliwonga and Vigro Deep.
“The duo is a perfect and welcome addition to the MTN Bushfire line-up as they replace the previously announced headliner, Nneka, who had to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances,” the organisers said.
With a career spanning almost 50 years, Amadou & Mariam have asserted themselves as the ultimate ambassadors of Afropop. They have enjoyed international success and collaborated with some of the world’s greatest names including Damon Albarn (UK), Santigold (US), Scissor Sisters (US), Theophilus London (US) and the late US singer Amp Fiddler. Over the course of their decades-long career, they have taken the Malian Blues that made them a household name and opened it up to rock, hip hop and disco influences, spreading their Afropop message and joie de vivre.
Da Capo, meanwhile, is hailed as one of South Africa’s finest house music DJs and producers. With his distinct genre-bending sounds, he has earned recognition for his blend of African rhythms and electronic beats with hit tracks that set dance floors ablaze across the world. As one of the prominent voices in the amapiano genre, Daliwonga will captivate with his amapiano anthems laced with soulful vocals and infectious melodies. Rising amapiano DJ and producer, Vigro Deep, on the other hand, will be firing up the Ballantine’s Firefly stage with his distinctive amapiano flair fused expertly with elements of EDM, dubstep, techno house and other genres.
Previously announced artists include South African musicians Thandiswa Mazwai, Musa Keys, Bongiziwe Mabandla, Makhadzi, Jeremy Loops, Filah Lah Lah and Madala Kunene, alongside Guy Buttery as well as Maleh (Lesotho), Bholoja (eSwatini), Stewart Sukuma & Banda Nkhuvu (Mozambique). International artists who will grace the MTN Bushfire stage include Fetén Fetén (Spain), DJ Sebb (Reunion Island), Oddisee & Good Company (US/Sudan), Camilla George (UK) and Blue Lab Beats (UK).
The Africa Rising Music Conference, which is the official partner for MTN Bushfire’s annual Arts Round Table industry workshops, will be sponsoring ALBI X (German) and Rita Kamale (Morocco/UK).
The full line-up will be available on the MTN Bushfire official website later this week.