2025: The Year of the Mango. Making New Memories.

The Kirstenbosch concert will represent a perfect launch platform for other celebrations and

releases that Mango Groove have planned for the rest of 2025.

40 years? A pretty big number indeed!

In the words of Claire:

‘’Truth be told, we can’t really believe it ourselves. What a journey, what a ride! And seeing as

we made it to this point, 2025 will be a year in which we roll out a celebration of Mango

Groove, in so many different ways. It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come up often, so we’re

seizing it with both hands.’’

‘’More than this, though, in celebrating Mango, we’re also celebrating South Africa, its people

and the journey we are all still on. Speaking from the heart, Mango Groove would be nothing

without the love and celebration of those who have supported us through the decades, and we

feel huge gratitude for this’’

​

So Much to Celebrate:

The Mango Groove story is under any description a great South African story, that through its

roots and founder members, really goes back to World War Two.

Music is so often a soundtrack to our lives. And in so many different ways, the music of Mango

Groove has served in its own way as a key soundtrack to this country’s journey:

Times of change, conflict, uncertainty, reconciliation and celebration, and South Africa’s fraught

but hopeful process of forging of a new and inclusive South African identity.

Above all, perhaps, Mango Groove continue to stand tall as a shining example of, and a true

testimony to, the incredible power of music to bring people together, to break down barriers,

and to celebrate differences.

A lot to celebrate indeed, and with all of this in mind, Mango Groove has a host of things

planned for 2025:

​

The Mango Groove Birthday Wall

‘’The Mango Groove Birthday Wall, accessible via our Instagram page, will be open for

anyone who wants to post or share any images, memories, comments and associations related

to Mango Groove through the decades. Music is so much a part of the soundtrack to our lives.

…we’ll be putting up a few of our own. Our favourite? The lead singer of a band we shared a

stage with a while back confessed to us that he was conceived to Special Star…’’

​

2025 ‘’Memories and Moments’’ Concert Tour

In the Summer of 2025, Mango Groove will be bringing the 40th Anniversary Concert to

Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and other centres. The group is also exploring a couple of

concerts in the greater South African Diaspora.

​

2025 Merchandise Range

A new Mango Groove merchandise range will be launched at the Kirstenbosch show.

In Claire’s words: ‘’We really wanted to do something different and very sentimental this time,

so expect some special, commemorative items, personal artefacts, signed items, new and old

vinyl releases, and never-to be repeated products.’’

​

Remixes

Already Mango Groove had a lot of interest around people remixing songs in the Mango

catalogue, so the band is looking forward both to collaborations, but also all-new versions

throughout 2025.

​

Vinyl

Already an all-new, limited edition of Mango Groove’s first iconic album ‘’Mango Groove’’ has

been re-released on orange vinyl, and the band is delighted with the result.

There are now plans underway to release more limited-edition vinyl albums, which will include

previously unreleased recordings from the band’s early years.

​

Pipeline Projects

In some ways, for all the decades of love and music, Mango Groove has really only just started

out on its journey. Fortuitously, much of the global market now favours catalogue artists, so the

band is keen to strike a balance between celebrating its existing catalogue and giving it new life,

while at the same time exploring new, creative projects and new material

At least the following are at an advanced pre-production or writing stage:

- ‘’Special Stars’’. A full-length Movie Documentary about the whole Mango Groove story.

- ‘’The Groove’’: A docu-drama, 13-part TV featuring a dynamic new cast, and charting

the loves, trials and tribulations of Mango Groove in its early years.

 

In addition, Mango Groove has also created an all-new, big cast, song-and-dance stage musical,

‘’Gladlands’’, in collaboration with Paul Slabolepszy, one of South Africa’s most iconic

playwrights and actors. Most excitingly, in addition to a few of the most famous Mango Groove

hits, ‘’Gladlands’’ also features a host of brand-new songs that the band are very proud of.

The Journey Continues, to be sure, and in some ways it has just begun.