MANGO GROOVE’S career has spanned an exciting and turbulent time in South Africa’s political and social development. Since starting out as a powerful non-racial musical force in the late ‘80’s, the band has succeeded, especially through their music videos, in representing the vision of a post- apartheid South African culture.
Mango Groove has enjoyed over 12 Number 1 hits and received every conceivable SA music and video award, as well as a number of global ones. They have set new precedents for all SA artists, being the only SA group to fill the Sun City Superbowl and the Standard Bank Arena 6 times each.
This multi-platinum- selling band was the first to re-define live staging and production standards for SA acts; the first to command a million Rand sponsorship deal, and were the first and only group to remain at the top of the SA national sales charts for over a year.
Internationally, Mango Groove’s unique and magical blend of South African marabi/ kwela/ pop influences, together with the voice and presence of Claire Johnston and the evocative penny whistle melodies of Mduduzi Magwaza, has captivated audiences around the world.
Highlights of their career include the direct satellite link- up to the Freddie Mercury tribute in London (to an estimated audience of a billion people); their performance in front of 200 000 people at the Paris “Rock against racism” concert; and their performance at the renowned Montreux Jazz festival where the band received 3 encores. From London to Hong Kong to Toronto to Sydney, the band has played to sell- out crowds…
Mango Groove was also especially proud to have been associated with the ABC world- wide broadcast of Nelson Mandela’s release where their music was used as the main theme. A few years later they headlined at his inauguration.
A new Mango Groove ‘Greatest Hits’ compilation and a 16 track DVD have been released worldwide. It is a must-have for Mango Groove fans as well as lovers of fun everywhere…