Africa Is Now

We go behind the scenes at The African Getdown In LA, where five local music hit makers were recently invited to bring the continent's creativity to the world stage.

- Nadia Neophytou

It’s a Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles – the Tuesday after Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira turned heads on the Oscars red carpet, hot off the billion-dollar box office success of Black Panther. Unusually cold temperatures and the hangover from an extra-long awards-season make it a gloomy day. But, almost as if on cue, the moment a group of five young South Africans touch down at LAX, the sun begins to peek out and the mood in the City of Angels begins to lighten up.

Rapper Anathi Mnyango, better known to folks back home as Anatii, saunters into the Mondrian Hotel on Sunset Boulevard. He’s followed by fellow hip-hop head Da LES – Leslie Jonathan Mampe – who bounces in, followed shortly by TV personalities Luthando ‘LootLove’ Shosha and Ayanda Thabethe. Last of the pack, Mkhululi Siqula, aka Heavy K stands next to his suitcase: ‘I can’t lie. It’s really great to be here,’ the 26-yearold smiles, wide-eyed.

It’s Heavy K’s first time in LA – as it is Thabethe and LootLove’s, too. Da LES and Anatii have both made visits before, having worked with international collaborators on tracks. They’ve all been gathered together by Absolut Elyx to enjoy a whirlwind tour of they city’s top nightlife spots before an evening at the exclusive Elyx House in the Hollywood Hills. The itinerary has been put together to give the group a taste of LA culture, but it’s the flavour these five bring with them that will make the trip memorable.