50 CENT AND G-UNIT IN SOUTH AFRICA
We at Bounceback Media were busy working in sunny Johannesburg, South Africa when the boss-man Colin Gayle, called us up from LA LA Land (Los Angeles to you and me) and said guys you have a few days to create 50 Cent and G Unit’s itinerary for their upcoming MTV tour of South Africa. Give me you best shot!!
All I could think was no way-not possible – you want me to create a whole itinerary for G-Unit!!! Well never one to shy away from a challenge, I picked up the phone and started making phone-calls!
And what you read and see below is the combination of all our hard work, sweat and without a doubt serious teamwork from the Bounceback crew!
Day 1 – I arrived at Lanseria airport, Johannesburg, SA where I was due to meet 50 Cent and G-Unit before they headed out straight to Angola. With only an hour to spare, we hosted a press conference practically on the tarmac as they guys all headed out to the jet!
Surrounded by camera’s, journalists, radio media, the works, we even had press guys trying to smuggle themselves onto the plane, it was truly insane!! But once 50 Cent and G-Unit had safely boarded the plane, my work was done; well at least for a few hours!
Day 2 – Back in Jozi! (Johannesburg to you and me)….as part of 50 Cent and G-Unit’s social responsibility activities, we connected them with our close and honourable friend His Royal Highness Chief Mandlesizwe Zwelivelile Mandela, the grandson of the one and only, living legend…Nelson Mandela.
To give you a brief background, some 70 years ago Nelson Mandela renounced his family chieftaincy in order to fight apartheid, however recently the Xhosa authorities decided to resurrect the Mandela Chieftaincy, and nelson Mandela decided to bestow the honour on his successor, Chief Mandla Mandela. A businessman and Rhodes Island University graduate, Chief Mandela has vowed to help the people of the rural Eastern Cape, which is one of the nation’s poorest regions.
Even though his grandfather is Nelson Mandela and he is the Chief of one of the oldest families in history, Chief Mandela knew exactly who 50 Cent and G-Unit were and both parties were excited and honoured to meet one another.
50 Cent and G-Unit started of the day with a personal tour by Chief Mandela of the Hector Peterson Museum and a visit to Nelson Mandela’s first ever home in Soweto, one of the largest and most famous Townships in the South Africa.
Now as you can imagine, we had kept news of this visit quiet for obvious reason, but by the time we exited the museum, it felt like half of Soweto had come out to see 50, Banks and Yayo…..we were surrounded…Big Shout out to the incredible security team and drivers who managed to get us out!!!
It was a truly enlightening experience hearing practically first hand about the struggle of Apartheid through the voice of the grandson of one of the most prolific freedom fighters in the history. It was like Nelson Mandela giving us a guided tour himself!
We were then whisked away onto the next stop on our programme – we had arranged a private tour of The Apartheid Museum with the City (thanks Lumka), when I received the call we had been waiting for……Madiba (the family clan name of Nelson Mandela) was ready to meet and greet 50 Cent …our cars literally turned around and headed back to Madiba’s private residence!
Through security gates and metal detectors we all went….and there sat in his front room was the great man himself….needless to say we were all speechless….but we managed to say a few words, I personally just sat with my mouth open! See the photos below if you don’t believe me!
Phew – next stop….later that night we hosted the biggest hip hop concert in the history of South Africa!!! – Congrats to Showtime and African International Entertainment (AIE)for making this show happen! ….it was a massive success!
Day 3 – So tell me…. if you had to put together 50 Cent and G Unit’s itinerary what would you arrange????...We pulled off the social responsibility program, 50 Cent met the great man himself….so really what else was there to do…..of course when you’re in Africa there can only be one thing….a visit to one of the biggest and best platinum mines in the World curtsey of Patrice Motsepe
Alas I personally could not make attend that trip…not enough room on the private jet....can you believe it!!!.... (Where is the love guys????)….. I was left out on the cold…..but I know 50, Yayo and Banks had a great time, seeing where their platinum comes from…..just see the MTV video link…..did I just see you sneak a bar in your pocket 50!!!! …..wearing blue overalls and a hard hat never looked so hot on a man !!! ….I hear the mine shaft went down vertical some 200metres….yep glad I stayed home for that one!!!
Oh how could I forget the group visit including Yayo, Banks and DJ Whoo Kid to the Lion Park in Johannesburg….I will never forget the look on our tour guides face when Yayo and Whoo Kid tried to jump out of the truck to go wrestle the lions!...or when our very own Zolisa poured nuts on-top of Whoo Kids’ head which then proceeded to be eaten by a giraffe!!! (who have the biggest tongues I have ever seen)…yep – those guys are hysterical!
Day 4 – OK…after some much needed berocca..…..we headed out to Cape Town….for the final leg of South Africa…..and for some more education about apartheid and Madiba’s history. This time we were lucky enough to have South Africa’s official poet Zolani Mkiva give the guys a personal guided tour of Robben Island, the island where Nelson Mandela and the rest of his comrades were incarcerated for over 20years.
Zolani is also referred to as The President’s Poet and is the personal praise poet of Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki plus many more. (www poetofafrica.com)…so what better person than a poet to host other poets!
See the MTV video links for that extraordinary visit, which really hit home to the guys how the freedom fighters suffered but survived with an openness and softness about them that truly blows the mind….you only have to meet Madiba for a few minutes to see he is a man of forgiveness, and honour, not a bitter bone in him!
After another smash show later that night in Cape Town, we hosted a special party for the guys at one of the most gorgeous houses in have ever seen….I know where I want to live now!!!..... But those photos are private! Haha
Day 5 - After a long night – which ended about 5am, we headed out to Tanzania at 6am!!!…this was my first time on a private jet…so please excuse my excitement!!!.....Needless to say the jet I travel on – well the heating breaks down…..imagine the scene, Whoo kid, the lovely Mia, the guys from MTV and the rest of the crew and me….all shivering under blankets, wearing layers of socks and tops freezing our butts off! But you know what – we still had the most fun!!
Tanzania was truly crazy – thousands of people were waiting at the airport….warning….never have your passport in your pocket when trying to fight your way through a crowd of about 3000 people!!....yep…lesson learned the hard way….huh Colin!!!
The concert was insane, chairs being thrown around, people trying to jump the stage…but the food backstage was great…although I was the only one eating!!!!!!
Then we headed out back to Jozi, where we all parted ways…..the guys back to USA and the Bounceback crew back to Sandton!
We had a fab time, MTV grabbed some incredible footage of the tour (guys I love you….) and well me…I slept for a week!!!....
Tune in for next adventures of Bounceback Media in Africa!!!
