Mango Groove celebration a window into my mixed-bag Heritage Month

Intangible cultural heritage comprises performing arts and oral traditions, among others, with radio one of the platforms utilised to promote elements of performing arts, especially vocal and instrumental music. Bob Marley said of the power of music: "One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.

- Malesela Maubane

On the last Friday of September, Heritage Month in South Africa, as I was listening to Bertha Charuma's show The Chill Zone on SAfm, Mango Groove's Special Star was on the playlist and when it came on it brought back fond childhood memories.

Well, besides, I have followed Charuma's impressive radio body of work since her time on Metro FM and Radio 2000.

Special Star always invokes mixed memories for me. Mango Groove held their 40th anniversary concert "Memories and Moments" in Joburg on September 14. How I wish I was there!

The Afro pop group, whose style is influenced by township music, fusing marabi and kwela, was founded in 1984 and in 1985 it released the first single, Two Hearts, featuring lead vocalist Claire Johnston.

Their staying power has seen the band's music transcend apartheid South Africa, the 1985-1986 state of emergency to still remain relevant today.

This excerpt from a piece of writing on their website and about celebration of their four decades of magic, sums up their four decades of existence: "Born in turbulent times and rooted in unity. Mango Groove's music has always been a soundtrack to SA's journey: from moments of change and conflict to times of reconciliation and celebration."