This April, Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) will air Pop Goes Freedom, a three-part music film series that explores the sound of South African liberation, with a curated playlist that has served as the soundtrack to youth culture for the past 30 years. Starting on Saturday, 30 April at 17:00, the series takes viewers on a journey of popular South African music from 1994 to date.
During the past three decades, South African youth have relied on music as a voice and accompaniment in their lives. This series celebrates the modern South African sound and the stories behind it, featuring interviews with influential musicians and industry professionals, as well as archival footage and newly filmed content.
Through Pop Goes Freedom, viewers are taken on an emotional journey through the nostalgia of South African music, revisiting the songs that have served as anthems for freedom and liberation. The series celebrates the people behind the music and their stories of perseverance, resilience, and creativity. It also remembers the moments of joy and celebration that were made possible by the music.
"At Mzansi Magic, we are dedicated to storytelling that inspires and uplifts, and Pop Goes Freedom is a perfect example of that. It is a remarkable music film series that celebrates the sound of South African liberation, as well as the cultural and social movements that shaped it," says Shirley Adonisi, director of local entertainment channels at M-Net. "It is a reminder of the powerful force of music in unifying people and creating a sense of identity and community."
Through a collection of voices, nostalgia, and reflections from music industry greats such as Kwesta, Babes Wodumo, JR, Magarimbe and DJ Zinhle, among many other influential personalities, Pop Goes Freedom shows how the South African music scene has evolved and changed. A thread will stitch the narrative together in this documentary so that DStv subscribers can journey into the life and times of the music and songs that have been a part of South Africa's Black youth culture since 1994 with the people who pioneered the South African music and cultural landscape.
Pop Goes Freedom curates a playlist of some of the most influential songs of the past 30 years. A portrait of South Africa's coming of age, it tells the story of how Mzansi has been shaped by its music, while also demonstrating youth culture's expression of a vibrant existence.
Starting Sunday, 30 April, catch the three-part music film series of Pop Goes Freedom at 17:00 on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161).
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