U2 Concert

Having been in Africa for a few months now I have gotten the opportunity to become comfortable in this foreign land, mingle with the locals, participate in the rich and authentic culture, and explore the natural beauty.

The U2 concert in Johannesburg last weekend does not fall into any of these categories.

I should start by saying they put on one hell of a show and it was definitely the best rock concert I've seen.* Now let's digress....

Bono and company came fully prepared to give Africa a concert like they had never seen. The hype for the event was enormous with claims of the largest concert ever held in Africa, U2's largest audience ever, and rumors of special guests the caliber of Jay-Z, Black-eyed Peas, Green Day, and the Soweto Gospel Choir (huh?).**  


U2 has a long history of humanitarian work in Africa and so it was no surprise when video clips of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and inspirational messages from Nelson Mandela were integrated into the performance. Really, there couldn’t be a better setting to inspire and motivate “children of the revolution” than a concert in an African township, right?

I think this is the moment the irony set in. Here we were at a concert in an African township with, arguably, the most prominent celebrity philanthropist groups ever; eager to push their agenda of equality, human rights, and aiding the world’s struggles. Yet, dropped in the middle of the famous township of Soweto is the beautiful new 100,000 person Soccer City stadium (built for the World Cup) and, on this beautiful night, holding 97,000 white fans screaming at the top of their lungs to songs about struggle and freedom. Is it really a surprise when the cheapest ticket was north of $100?

The group attending the concert included the newest American addition to Joburg and high school friend, Omar Raman, an Afrikaans co-worker, his girlfriend, his sister, and sister’s Spanish boyfriend. It seemed backwards when I was the one giving directions to the train station and even more peculiar to find out it would be our ‘naitive’ tour guide’s first trip to Soweto after thirty years in Johannesburg (both Americans had already been twice).

Seriousness aside, we arrived excited! As the train rolled up to the massive earth toned stadium we joined the masses in what could have been a U2 concert anywhere (except for the insanely crowded rickety old public transit, unsanitary street vendors, lack of public toilets, and absence of security). We brought the energy and as much American cliches as we could. Omar bought individual liquor pouches off newly found friends on the train, we shotgunned beers in the Heineken garden, held up our phones, sent voice notes, and Omar even bought the official tour t-shirt.

Train ride to concert

Genius.

In front of Soccer City

Adding some American flare

Willem fitting in

U2 360 Tour Stage

U2 Concert

*whoa whoa whoa... BEST? The Rolling Stones in Charlottesville wins hands down. 
**Supposedly, U2 had done work with the Gospel Choir in a prior project.