How Danny uplifts local artists who can’t perform during the pandemic

Pre-Covid, that passion helped Danny to build one of the biggest festival curation and brand activation agencies in South Africa, Connect Entertainment. And, like many businesses in the entertainment industry, it was taken away overnight when the pandemic hit.

But even after the seemingly worst has happened, Danny remains positive – and he’s spreading the love.

Africa My Playground is a program that Danny and his team have developed over the past 14 months in response to the fact that the entertainment and tourism industries in South Africa were some of the hardest hit by the pandemic.

“As a team, we thought to ourselves, how could we carry on as an entertainment agency, but at the same time help the tourism sector,” explains Danny.

And this is what they came up with. An online concert that is broadcast to the world, showcasing South Africa’s beautiful landscapes and incredible artists.

The business’s core value is showcasing what South Africa is to the rest of the world.

Focusing on the positive

During a time when we are flooded with negative social media and bad news, Danny is choosing not to focus on the devastating impact of Covid-19, but on what he can do to bring more beauty into the world instead.

One of the key areas that Africa My Playground wants to address is the fact that world-renowned artists are adrift at the moment. They don’t know what to do, where to go or how to adapt to current circumstances. This platform and the 9-part series that Danny and his team are creating gives them a beautiful, unique and local way to reach global audiences.

Here are Danny’s top lessons in positivity:

• When you uplift people, you uplift yourself. Instead of allowing things beyond your control to drag you down, focus on who you can help. For Danny and his team, local artists were an obvious fit – plus they are showcasing South Africa’s beauty as well.
• Focus on the future. The first concert is with Lemon & Herb on top of Soweto Towers. Danny wants a viewer in London to see the video and decide to put South Africa on their bucket list, or a promoter in Brazil to see and choose to bring Lemon & Herb to their country. It’s all about looking forward and creating opportunities down the line.
• Accept what you can’t change. Danny’s current motto is that it is what it is. We all have talents, networks and a purpose – they key is to find a new avenue to support each other during this time.

Here’s how you can support Africa My Playground and the artists featured in the concert series:

Watch, comment and share this video

Support Connect Entertainment’s website

Follow Africa My Playground’s social channels: Facebook and Instagram

Watch the full video here: