The world-renowned American pop, and R&B sensation Christopher Maurice Brown popularly known as Chris Brown by legions of fans across the globe delivered a flawless masterclass in entertainment, audience connection and celebration of music, culture, and power of live performance in the golden province over the long weekend at a packed FNB Stadium here in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Dubbed the “11:11” concert, the two-days extravaganza brought thousands of music, popular culture fans and media across the African continent to the golden province of Gauteng in a celebration of Brown’s unparalleled love for South Africa and the continuation of the provincial tourism body, golden festive summer ena’lanto campaign.
The American superstar’s performance in front of the combined total audience of over 190 000 created a synchronicity of events with the concert re-emphasizing the “gees” ‘lanto, “that thing” which continues to characterize the unique energy and offering of South Africa and Africa’s richest, most populace and most visited province.
The festive summer period in Gauteng which has now changed to be a harvesting season for the visitor economy in the province unlike the previous times in which everyone left the province for the coastal regions and other areas continue now to be a favourable period for high impact quality global signature events hosting, welcoming of regional visitors and memorable reconnection with Africa’s melting pot of cultures.
These events not only do they contribute immensely to our destination competitiveness but plays a critical role in driving increased visitation, high tourism revenue, spend and more bed nights as visitors explore and fall in love with the golden province more and more.
The Breezy Bowl (calabash) concert weekend experience also coincided with the third and final T20 Cricket match between the Proteas and Pakistan and the sold-out annual Soul & Gospel concert in Tshwane, the country’s golden capital city. All these together with other regional lifestyle, sports and entertainment events hosted over this long weekend generated into the provincial visitor economy a conservative estimate of R900 million with over 6000 temporary jobs and visitors booking more bed nights while spending more on shopping, food, and beverages.
“For us in Gauteng, these are not statistics or numbers to throw around or is this just about fun and parties, this represent actual improvement in the livelihoods of our residents, bread on the tables of our entrepreneurs, tour operators, event’s organizers and an important market access opportunities for our SMMEs and positive advert for the golden province regionally, and global”, explained Gauteng acting Premier and MEC for Finance & Economic Development Lebogang Maile.
Leveraging on the province’s quality transport, entertainment, telecommunications and hospitality infrastructure, Gauteng rolled-out the golden carpet for locals and visitors alike. Thousands descended on our main ports of entry from OR Tambo and Lanseria International Airports to Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Namibian borders into SA and amongst others used the gautrain and other organized park and ride facilities.
Our multi-disciplinary teams of law enforcement agencies together with stadia management and organizer’s security, all executed the plan for a safer, enjoyable, and rewarding festive summer ena’lanto eGauteng expertly. We would like to thank and appreciate all who worked tirelessly to ensure that we provide consistently, world-class, and safe eventing ecosystem in our province, emphasized Maile.
Joining Breezy on stage over the two-days where some of South Africa and Africa’s finest acts like LoJay and Davido from Nigeria, our own Major League DJ’s fresh from their global showcase and DJ Maphorisa. This infusion of multiple genres and our own artists by Brown in his
performance reaffirmed his admiration for our quality talent.
While the crowds enjoyed Brown’s flawless and energetic performances with his hit’s songs like Angel Numbers, Wall to Wall, Deuces and Under the Influence, it was the iconic Look at Me Nowflying over the audience performance and the rendition of Mzansi’s unofficial anthem Sister Bethina and the infusion of the popular Biri Marungand Mandoza’s Nkalakatha locals’ songs that lifted the roof over the calabash for good.
by Barba Gaoganediwe, Spokesperson Gauteng Tourism
