Bob Travel

The times are changing in South Africa.  Last month, the first elected democratic President, Nelson Mandela promoted and supported Jacob Zuma, as he had previously done for Thabo Mbeki, his successor.  It is believed that soon, Zuma there will be a new outline for conservatism in the country.  One that supports the religious and the cultural roots of the people, which Zuma feels is being compromised by liberal Western values.  Some believe that Zuma is obsessed by power and control.  Stating that issues such as same sex relationships, and the death penalty, and the condemnation of those opposing ideas of the new government, are issues that Zuma intends to take control over.  In the cafes and restaurants in every Cape Town luxury hotel,  political analysts discuss these issues of their new president.  Some fear the the country will move backwards instead of forward.

However, Sipho Seepe,  a political analyst from Johannesburg states that this is just not the case. He states that there are many different groups of ethnicity surrounding Zuma at the moment, all of them leaders and that Zuma is not power hungry nor obsessed.  That there are issues of tribalism creeping into the politics of South Africa, and that the tension between the ethnic groups can become problematic is one idea that raises concern.  In the past racial tensions have been met with tribalism’s rise, and the concern is not just the tension between the blacks and the whites, but between all the tribes.  And although some of Zuma’s ideas about race, most notably his contention that English speaking whites are not truly patriotic, some believe that all the races will have an easier time communicating with and being represented by Zuma, that had been the case with his predecessor, Mbeki.  Time will tell regardless, if Zuma will follow in the footsteps of Mbeki, as some believe, or in the footsteps and with the compassion of Mandela,  as do others.

Visitors to Johannesburg will be at once electrified by the vast array of things to do. It is a city with a large, and complex, heartbeat, and there are more events happening in one night than any one person can experience. The overwhelming sensual impressions will take the traveler for an exciting ride through this, South Africa’s largest city. For luxury hotels, Johannesburg is well-positioned to help the world-curious guest find a lovely rest in the middle of an amazing cultural experience. There are fabulous amenities for guests to relax before they explore the cultural events in Johannesburg.

One of the most lively arts in Johannesburg is the music. The mix of styles and rhythms has long-established Johannesburg’s position as a global force in the music industry, and the past ten years have seen many evolutions and revolutions in the local music scene. Innovation and tradition are coupled here, as evidenced by the popularity of Bongo Maffin. This musical trio came of age under the generation of young musicians who got their chops in the post-apartheid era. They combine many forms, including reggae, rap, and hip-hop, but their main influence comes from the floors of dance clubs. This type of house music is known as kwaito, and Bongo Maffin are the unique world ambassadors. Their album, “Bongonation,” established them as a force who create music as a rallying cry, and an annunciation.

Using their bodies and voices to create rhythms, they pay honor to the last generation’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and highlight their position as unique entities and historical forces on the world music stage. They play at concerts and festivals all over the world, but the favorite place in their hearts is always their native Johannesburg. After one concert in Spain, the members of BongoMaffin were so homesick they left their luggage behind in a hurry to return home.