South African culture has never needed permission to evolve. From underground dance floors and township parties to international festival stages, Mzansi has consistently turned its sounds, movements and everyday experiences into cultural exports that travel far beyond its borders.
Now, Anything Goes is celebrating that creative energy with CULTURE IN MOTION, a new 90-second film featuring Cape Town-based visual artist Yay Abe, directed by Grant de Sousa, with musical direction by Liquideep.
More than a promotional introduction to the upcoming summer season, the film explores a bigger idea: culture is not created by artists alone. It comes alive through the communities that give it meaning.
When the Dance Floor Becomes a Canvas
At the centre of the film is Yay Abe, the creative identity of South African artist and illustrator Russell Abrahams. Known for his vibrant neo-African pop art, he draws inspiration from the people, patterns and places that make everyday life in South Africa visually distinctive.
For CULTURE IN MOTION, that creative approach meets the energy of nightlife.
Painting, sound and movement converge in a visual celebration of the people who make dance floors unforgettable. Instead of treating nightlife as simply a place to party, the film presents it as a living expression of identity, connection and shared experience.
As Yay Abe explains, every sound and movement carries the influence of somebody else. His artwork aims to make that collective energy visible, acknowledging that the inspiration belongs to the communities behind it as much as it does to the artist.
It’s a perspective that resonates with a generation documenting its own experiences through music, fashion, photography, digital art and social media.
From House to Amapiano: Mzansi’s Global Sound
South Africa‘s musical influence stretches across genres, generations and borders. House music laid important foundations, while Afro House, Gqom and Amapiano continue to demonstrate the country’s ability to create sounds that connect with audiences worldwide.
Liquideep’s involvement in the film adds another layer to that story. The duo’s association with South African house music connects the campaign to a musical landscape shaped by producers, DJs, vocalists, dancers and audiences who have helped build the country’s reputation as a global music destination.
The film’s underlying message is that these movements do not happen in isolation. A sound grows through the people who embrace it, the spaces where it is played and the communities that carry it forward.
That makes CULTURE IN MOTION a celebration of more than established names. It recognises the collective creativity that keeps South African nightlife moving.
Anything Goes Takes the Energy Into Summer
The film also sets the tone for Anything Goes’ 2026/2027 summer campaign, following more than two decades of promoting live entertainment and bringing international acts to South African audiences while supporting local talent.
The programme spans Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Hartbeespoort and Plettenberg Bay, with an international stop in Nairobi. Highlights include Tyla, Fatboy Slim, Keinemusik, Ultra South Africa, Corona Sunsets Summer Tour, Piano People, KUNYE, BLOMA by DJ Kent, The Groove Room, Paradisco and Balcony Mix.
For young South Africans, this calendar reflects the different ways music culture is experienced: from large-scale electronic music festivals and international performances to curated dance events and outdoor summer gatherings.
It also raises an important question about the future of live entertainment: how can an industry bring global acts to local audiences while continuing to create opportunities for the homegrown artists, creatives and communities that shape its identity?
Anything Goes founder and CEO Shaun Duwe believes South Africa‘s cultural diversity is central to what comes next. The campaign’s ambition is to take the country’s creative energy to wider international audiences.
The Episode Synopsis: A Culture Still Moving
CULTURE IN MOTION is a 90-second visual exploration of South African nightlife through the intersection of art, music and movement. Featuring Yay Abe‘s original artwork and musical direction by Liquideep, the film celebrates the people and shared experiences behind the country’s evolving dance culture.
Its message is simple: culture is never static. It changes with every generation, every new sound and every community that adds something of its own.
Watch the film: Anything Goes — CULTURE IN MOTION
Your Guide to the 2026/2027 Summer Calendar
Here are the key events announced as part of the campaign.
| Date | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 30 October 2026 | Halloween Cape Town ft. DBN Gogo & Oscar Mbo | Cabo Beach, Cape Town |
| 21 November 2026 | Keinemusik Nairobi | Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi |
| 28 November 2026 | Piano People Johannesburg | Old Park Station, Johannesburg |
| 5 December 2026 | Corona Sunsets Summer Tour | Villa Paradiso, Hartbeespoort Dam |
| 5 December 2026 | Paradisco – Club Tropicana | Grand Africa Café & Beach, Cape Town |
| 12 December 2026 | Fatboy Slim Johannesburg | James & Ethel Gray, Johannesburg |
| 12 December 2026 | BLOMA by DJ Kent | Cabo Beach, Cape Town |
| 15 December 2026 | Corona Sunsets Summer | Grand Africa Café & Beach, Cape Town |
| 15–16 December 2026 | Fatboy Slim Cape Town | Cabo Beach, Cape Town |
| 26 December 2026 | The Groove Room Cape Town | Cabo Beach, Cape Town |
| 27 December 2026 | Paradisco – On the Island | Stanley Island, Plettenberg Bay |
| 27 December 2026 | Liquideep, Mi Casa & Oskido | Cabo Beach, Cape Town |
| 30 December 2026 | Piano People Cape Town | Cabo Beach, Cape Town |
| 1 January 2027 | KUNYE New Year’s Day | The Ostrich, Cape Town |
| 3 January 2027 | Balcony Mix Cape Town | Cabo Beach, Cape Town |
| 4 January 2027 | Tyla Cape Town | Green Point Track, Cape Town |
| 8–9 January 2027 | Tyla Pretoria | SunBet Arena, Pretoria |
| 13 February 2027 | Paradisco – Love Sensation | Grand Africa Café & Beach, Cape Town |
| 27 March 2027 | Paradisco – Gypsy Woman | Grand Africa Café & Beach, Cape Town |
| 30 April 2027 | Ultra South Africa – Cape Town | The Ostrich, Cape Town |
| 1 May 2027 | Ultra South Africa – Johannesburg | Nasrec Expo Centre, Johannesburg |
Event details and dates are based on the supplied announcement. Confirm ticket availability, line-ups and any schedule changes with the organisers before attending.
For Urban Lifestyle, the bigger story behind CULTURE IN MOTION is how South African creativity continues to move between disciplines, communities and borders. The dance floor is just one part of the picture. The people behind the music, the art and the experiences are what keep the culture alive.
