Reason Reflects On Back to the City’s Cultural Impact: “It’s 20 Years of Black Excellence”
Reason Reflects On Back to the City’s Cultural Impact: “It’s 20 Years of Black Excellence.” South African hip-hop artist Reason, also known as Sizwe Alakine, has described 20 years of Back to the City as a celebration of Black excellence, culture and the entrepreneurial spirit that has helped shape the country’s hip-hop scene.
Reflecting on the festival’s two-decade milestone, Reason highlighted how Back to the City has created a platform for emerging artists to share stages with established names while bringing people together through a shared love of hip-hop.
“Twenty years of Back to the City is 20 years of Black excellence, 20 years of culture, 20 years of a group of young business people who took what they love and turned it into some sort of monetary value,” he said.
For Reason, the festival’s significance extends beyond its performances. He pointed to the business-minded individuals who transformed their passion for hip-hop into an enduring cultural platform, creating opportunities for artists and audiences to connect over the years.
He also emphasised the festival’s role in celebrating new talent, giving emerging artists opportunities to perform alongside established musicians and become part of the broader hip-hop movement.
“It’s 20 years of people always coming to celebrate new artists, sharing the stage with big artists, and it’s 20 years of hip-hop,” he added.
Back to the City’s 20-year milestone serves as a reminder of hip-hop’s continued presence in South African culture, with Reason’s remarks highlighting the people, artists and entrepreneurs who have contributed to its growth.
For an event rooted in bringing the culture together, his reflection places the focus on more than longevity: it is about the generations of artists and audiences who have helped keep hip-hop alive.
