Ryan Swano
With a growing worldwide audience for The Uncle Cal Xperience Radio Show, it was inevitable that Expat South Africans who make up a large part of his international audience would want The Afro Ninja, DJ Uncle Cal, to visit their new home countries and perform live.
Clinton Mann, a Singer, Musician, Producer and Events Organiser originally from Cape Town who has been living in New Zealand for the past 16 years came up with the idea to host an event with an all-South African lineup that features Uncle Cal as a headliner.
The Big 80’s 90’s South African Party New Zealand on 3 August 2024 turned out to be every bit as awesome as the event organisers One World Music Events were touting it to be.
Held at what by all accounts is Auckland New Zealand’s favourite super club, Studio The Venue, this event was from the outset intended to be on a scale that is equivalent to any event headlined by an international star. After all, Studio The Venue has hosted live performances by world-renowned artists ranging from Black Eyed Peas to Janet Jackson.
The Big South African Party in New Zealand with Uncle Cal
The Big SA Party in Kiwi Land had an all-SA lineup with Uncle Cal sharing the stage with South African born artists who now live in Oceania and the Pacific.
The Afro Ninja, DJ Uncle Cal, famous for his on-stage persona donning his Kung Fu Outfit, Curly Afro Hair and Disco Era Sunglasses got the crowd going from the moment he appeared on the stage to an intro track after which he hit the decks with some of the best Old School Disco Funk that took the crowd at Studio The Venue on a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
“It is impressve that expat South Africans living in New Zealand, especially those from our Coloured communities still have a great sense of patriotism towards South Africa and still very much strive to keep alive their cultural connection to the Mother Land.”
Uncle Cal went on to say that at one point in his set he told the crowd that though his Kung Fu outfit might look ‘All Black’, his blood runs Green & Gold and he knows that theirs do too.
“I then dropped Nkalakatha by the late Mandoza and the crowd went wild!”
Before finishing his set Uncle Cal praised the expats in New Zealand for their achievements in industry and in business, and hit them with the punchline that he is glad see that most of them still have their own front teeth.
When he played his final tune, there was a sea of emotion as the crowd sang along to Give a Little Love by the late Zayn Adam.
WATCH Uncle Cal Finishing his set at the The Big 80’s 90’s South African Party New Zealand
Also hitting the decks on the night was Cape Town born DJ Deon (Thunderdome, Q’ Supper Club) who is currently based in the Philippines. Guest appearances and live performances by Clinton Mann, Ismail Davids, Dj Ace, Cher, Keshia, and DJ Willis rounded off the night with Host MC Megan Alatini.
Aside from his immense popularity as an events DJ and radio show host, Uncle Cal also has a strong reputation for organizing and hosting some of the best live music events across the Cape as well as in other parts of the country.
The Organiser of large-scale Live Musical Festivals such as Jazz On The Lawn and the Matroosfontein Jazz Reunion is also known for medium sized events like The Cape Town Jazz Party via Joburg held in Gauteng and the Urban Unsung series of events like the 2023 Dr Boogie Tribute held at Letrax in Pacaltsdorp.
Uncle Cal Going Down Under
Uncle Cal has also in recent years made significant inroads into the Live Video Streaming arena which also broadened his international audience. His radio shows are syndicated to FM radio stations across the country from Cape Town to Johannesburg, as well as being available on streaming platforms that takes his show all over the world, including New Zealand and Australia with their large expat communities.
Uncle Cal will soon again collaborate with events organizers in expat communities abroad and since the first announcements of the 3 August show in Auckland, NZ, Unce Cal has been inundated with the question: “When is Uncle Cal coming to Australia?”
After the success of The Big 80’s 90’s South African Party New Zealand,Uncle Cal has confirmed that there are indeed preliminary talks with event organizers already underway to put together a show that features Uncle Cal in The Land of Oz aka Down Under.
Meanwhile with Unce Cal now back in South Africa, Jozi music lovers can get ready for when The Cape Town Jazz Party via Joburg hosted by Uncle Cal returns to The View, Kibler Park on 7 September 2024.
The Uncle Cal Xperience is also back on the airwaves from 18h00 to 22h00 South African time.
You can either tune in via the FM Frequencies for Cape Winelands – KC 107.7 FM and Joburg – ELDOS 87.6 FM
OR Access Worldwide Streaming on www.unclecalmusic.com
