South Africa's Crossover Movement

On 12 January 1985 in central Johannesburg during the isolation of apartheid’s cultural boycott, leading up to a political State of Emergency amidst escalating racial violence, an event took place: the Concert in the Park. An estimated 125 000 people attended this benefit concert in aid of Operation Hunger, featuring a range of bands and audience members from different socio-cultural and musical backgrounds, all gathered at Ellis Park (a rugby stadium).

​The 1980s were a tumultuous time and, in hindsight, a liminal phase in the country’s transition from oppression to democracy. The Concert in the Park gave artists, audiences, and activists a glimmer of hope for a shared future outside of segregation, and an idea of the sway they wielded in potential change. The eclectic mix of music marked a rupture in the dominant narrative of the time and was pivotal in building momentum for a crossover movement.

    Remember when...

    Where were you on 12 January 1985?
    Were you at the Concert in the Park? Or somewhere else entirely?
    I want to hear from you what happened on that day.
    THE CONTEXT // Paint a picture of the 1980s in South Africa.
    What was life like back then?
    Idea: you can speak broadly about South African society, available technologies, the economic situation, the physical environment, or the state of politics
    THE CONCERT // Share a story about the 1985 Concert in the Park.
    What do you remember of that day?
    Idea: consider the words you would use to describe the sentiment of the concert, the way people behaved on the day, your opinion of the impact the event had on you, and the role it played within the broader context of SA in 1985.

    Imagine if...

    Let's pretend there will be a 40 year anniversary Concert in the Park in 2025. What would that look like?
    I want to hear from you what you imagine could happen on such a day.
    THE CONTEXT // Paint a picture of the 2020s in South Africa.
    What is life like now?
    Idea: you can speak broadly about South African society, available technologies, the economic situation, the physical environment, or the state of politics
    THE CONCERT // Share your thoughts on a 2025 Concert in the Park.
    What do you imagine that could look like?
    Idea: consider the logistics of the event (who would perform, how would it be organised, what merchandise would there be, etc) and the intentions behind the concert (what would be the purpose of such an event in this context and what impact would it have).

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