ENTERTAINMENT NEWS - South African entertainer Gino Fabbri has discovered that music can bring people together across cultural boundaries, with a drum-filled road trip through the Garden Route offering plenty of reasons to celebrate the country's diversity.

The 56-year-old performer took his energetic pop-up shows to selected Spar stores across the Garden Route, Karoo and Sunshine Coast during a Heritage-themed tour supported by Spar Eastern Cape.

What began as a series of entertaining performances soon became an opportunity to connect with people from different backgrounds, with shoppers, staff members and passers-by joining in as Fabbri swapped traditional rock-inspired drum solos for the sounds of gqom, amapiano, kwaito, deep house and Afro house.

At a store in Knysna, an elderly local joined in the rhythm as Fabbri performed his drum interpretation of the gqom hit Omunye. 

Elsewhere, a staff member turned a yellow wet-floor caution sign into an impromptu musical instrument, strumming it with the enthusiasm of rock legend Jimi Hendrix.

Similar scenes unfolded at a store in Wilderness and at other stops along the route.

For Fabbri, the response reinforced his belief that music can create connections between people who might otherwise have little in common.

From social media to real-life connections

Fabbri's Heritage tour grew out of the popularity of his social media reels, in which he appears as a stereotypical Afrikaans traffic officer performing drum solos to township classics.

The contrast between his character and the music has attracted a wide audience, helping him use humour and performance to challenge cultural stereotypes.

As his audience has grown more diverse, Fabbri has also adapted his musical repertoire, incorporating contemporary South African genres alongside the rock music that once dominated his performances.

He said the warmth of the people he encountered along the Garden Route had been a highlight of the trip.

At each stop, he made a point of speaking to locals and learning more about what makes their communities unique.

In Knysna, the staff member playing the caution sign described the town as a beautiful small place with little crime, while a worker in Wilderness introduced him to the concept of isiduko, referring to Xhosa clan identity and associated traditions.

Fabbri said the Garden Route's mix of cultures, together with its international tourism industry, helped create an environment in which people were more open to one another.

“It makes everyone more open to others, both locals and people from all over the world,” he said.

Recalling the older Knysna resident who danced to his performance, Fabbri said: “I think he enjoyed the whole feel and vibe of the drums.”

Gino Fabbri shares a moment with SUPERSPAR Knysna staffer Sinazo Yono during his Heritage tour. Photo: Elijah Nell

Celebrating heritage beyond September

Although the tour was initially planned for the Eastern Cape and Garden Route, its reception has led to invitations for Fabbri to perform at stores in Cape Town.

“The reception [to the tour] has been absolutely incredible. The wave is building,” he said.

For Fabbri, the experience has also reinforced his view that celebrating South African heritage should extend beyond Heritage Month in September.

“Heritage is not only about a month. Our heritage is year-round. It’s a bit of gees, bringing happiness, bringing unity.”

While he expected people to enjoy the combination of drumming, comedy, singing and energetic dancing, the crowds that gathered at his performances took him by surprise.

He believes music provides a powerful way to start conversations and bridge cultural divides.

“They see a guy dressed up as a boertjie playing gqom and love it. It means they are willing to have a dialogue with different people,” he said.

In a social media environment where people are often divided by opposing views, Fabbri wants to encourage more face-to-face interaction.

His message is simple: step away from online arguments and spend time with people in real life.

“I say don’t go online, come to real people. People-to-people is the only way to fix our country.”

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’