Nelson Mandela Bay entertainer Gino Fabbri has taken his heritage-inspired roadshow to Cape Town, using music, humour and dance to celebrate South Africa’s cultural diversity.
The campaign, which began in the Eastern Cape before moving through the Garden Route, recently reached SUPERSPAR Blue Downs, where Fabbri performed for staff, customers and members of the local community.
Known for his Afrikaans speed-cop stage persona, Fabbri uses energetic drum performances inspired by kwaito, gqom, amapiano, deep house and Afro-house. His unusual combination of a traditional boertjie character and music associated with kasi culture has helped him connect with audiences across different backgrounds.
The entertainer partnered with SPAR Eastern Cape to take the performances to selected stores across the Sunshine Coast, Karoo and Garden Route regions.
The idea reportedly gained momentum about a year ago after a video of one of Fabbri’s drum solos went viral on TikTok. The clip attracted strong engagement, particularly from black audiences familiar with kwaito and gqom, with subsequent videos eventually reaching more than a million views.
That response inspired him to approach SPAR with the idea of a roadshow focused on heritage, happiness and unity.
At the Cape Town launch, crowds gathered around Fabbri as he played, with many recognising him from social media. His son, house music producer and DJ Celso Fabbri, also helped put together a playlist of 20 popular kasi tracks for the performance.
Fabbri said the Cape Town audience brought a different atmosphere, but the response was just as encouraging as it had been in the Eastern Cape and along the Garden Route.
He believes South Africans need more opportunities to connect beyond the divisions often amplified on social media.
Reflecting on the country’s history, he pointed to the 2010 FIFA World Cup as an example of how a shared sense of purpose can bring people together.
“I say don’t go online. Come to real people. People-to-people is the only way to fix our country,” he said.
Through the roadshow, Fabbri hopes to remind audiences of the positive things that make South Africa unique, using music as a way to bring communities together.
Main Image: Supplied
