POPULAR LIBERTY “AN INTIMATE EVENING” CONCERT SERIES RETURNS WITH

MORE ACTS AND AN EXCITING NEW VENUE

In 2023, the Intimate Evening Series, a collaboration between Liberty,

Griza Enterprises and leading local promoter Showtime Management

designed to usher in each new year with a symphony of hope, brought the

soulful Gregory Porter to South Africa. In 2024, R&B star Lalah Hathaway

was the solo headliner. In January 2025, the stakes are being raised,

introducing a Soul Odyssey, with three top-tier acts performing in

dramatically different settings.

In a one night-only celebration of Nina Simone and Miriam Makeba,

Simphiwe Dana and Abiah will take to the stage at 8pm at Montecasino’s

Teatro in Johannesburg on 18 January. Then, at the beginning of

February, British hitmakers Soul II Soul will thrill an audience in a

very special space at Farmhouse 58 in the Kromdraai Valley near the

Cradle of Humankind on 1 February commencing at 5pm before heading to

Cape Town to perform for fans at the magnificent Kirstenbosch Botanical

Gardens on 8 February at 7pm. Tickets for all three shows go on sale on

Monday, 28 October at showtime.co.za and webtickets.co.za. Liberty, part

of the Insurance and Asset Management business unit of Standard Bank is

opening up ticket sales for Standard Bank and Liberty clients 48 hours

ahead of the public availability.

There are few performers worldwide better suited to pay tribute to the

‘High Priestess of Soul’, Nina Simone, and the beloved ‘Mama

Africa’, Miriam Makeba. Ghanian-American Jeremiah Abiah, renowned as a

vocal coach and a former Associate Professor of Voice at the prestigious

Berklee College of Music, worked on the Netflix documentary _What Happened, Miss Simone?_ and released the acclaimed album _Abiah Sings

Nina_ (bringing to life a younger Nina, mesmerised by love) in 2018.

He’s performed at New York’s Apollo Theatre, where Simone was

responsible for some legendary performances and recordings, as well as

at Carnegie Hall and other major venues around the world.

In the book, _A Renegade Called Simphiwe,_ authored by Pumla Dineo

Gcola, Simphiwe Dana has been  complimented as, “the best thing to

happen to Afro-Soul music since Miriam Makeba”. Like Makeba,

Simphiwe’s output includes proud references to her Xhosa culture, an

Afrocentric identity that extends its appeal beyond South Africa’s

borders and far into the wider world and a political conscience that

refuses to shy away from incisive commentary in songs such as

_Thwel’Ubunzima_, _Bantu Biko Street_ and _Vukani_. Two decades after

her professional debut with the much-lauded album _Zandisile_, the

singer continues to enjoy a high profile thanks to both her enduring

compositions and the careful curation of both her musical releases and

live performances. Her presence on the Teatro stage will be sure to

delight both her long-time fans and lovers of Makeba’s jazz, Afro-pop

and world music.

Soul II Soul is much more than a band. Starting out as a ‘sound

system’ – DJs and audio engineers creating grooves and moods for

parties in late-Eighties London – before releasing classic singles

“Keep On Movin’” and the huge hit “Back To Life (However Do You

Want Me)” in 1989. “Back To Life” was nominated for an American

Music Award, a Brit Award and an Ivor Novello Award and won the 1990

Grammy Award for “Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with

Vocal”. In their eclectic fusion of reggae, R&B and neo-soul, Soul II

Soul offers a unique composition of conscious sound and lyrically

inspiring hip hop, all laced with a reggae groove. DJ, producer and

fashion entrepreneur Jazzie B is the only remaining member of the

outfit’s first incarnation and was awarded an OBE for Service to Music

in 2008. Soul II Soul’s slogan, “A happy face, a thumpin’ bass,

for a lovin’ race”, neatly ties up the collective’s ethos, and

experiencing that _joie de vivre_ in the beautiful natural surroundings

of Kromdraai or Kirstenbosch is sure to be a precious memory for all who

attend.

“Continuing our highly successful partnership with Liberty, we are

delighted to bring Abiah and Soul II Soul to South Africa and to welcome

Simphiwe Dana on stage as part of the Liberty presents ‘An Intimate

Evening’ concert series,” says Tony Feldman of Showtime Management.

“The 2025 line-up brings diverse artists from across the globe in a

three-way celebration that will thrill music-lovers in three intimate

settings.”

“Over the past two years, we’ve had the pleasure of bringing

together music lovers from all walks of life, to experience the

incredible showcases we’ve curated for their delight. It has been a

remarkable journey for us as well. Each year, we look for ways to raise

the bar, and this year is no exception. We’re excited to relive the

musical genius of Nina Simone and Miriam Makeba through the supremely

talented Abiah and Simphiwe Dana. Additionally, we’re thrilled that

Soul II Soul will be performing at a new venue, adding a unique

dimension to the event. As always, we’re proud to be #InItWith South

Africans during this musical celebration,” says Marees Bostander, Head

– Brand Strategy and Sponsorships at Liberty.

​Make sure you don’t miss out on the Liberty “An Intimate

Evening” concert series in January and February 2025. Tickets on sale

on 28 October at showtime.co.za and webtickets.co.za