Iconic Flash Entertainers pay tribute to founder
The historic Nagara drum is still used by Flash Entertainers today. Mickey Bhai was only 19-years-old when he founded Flash Entertainers, back in 1968.
The famous Flash Entertainers, South Africa’s premier chutney and Nagara group, held its grand 10th-anniversary tribute show, recently, in honour of its founder, the iconic music maestro, Mickey Kelavan, who passed away on May 12, 2013.
President of the South African Hindu Dharma Sabha, Ram Maharaj, said, “Mickey Bhai, as he was affectionately known, started playing the Nagara drum at the tender age of six. He was taught the art of Nagara by his grandfather, Roopan Jagunandhan, who learnt from his father, an indentured labourer. It was Kelavan’s great grandfather, who brought the Nagara drum on the Truro ship in 1860 when the first Indians arrived on South African soil to plant and harvest sugar cane.”
The historic Nagara drum is still used by Flash Entertainers today. Mickey Bhai was only 19-years-old when he founded Flash Entertainers, back in 1968.
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Tribute was also paid to other founder members as well as the many singers, dancers and musicians, who were a proud part of Flash Entertainers during its 55 years of stellar performances.
Flash Entertainers has distinguished itself by winning the coveted South African Traditional Music Award (SATMA) conferred by the National Department of Arts and Culture for a record-breaking six times in the years 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017.
In 2019 and 2021, the Musical Legend Award was presented to Mickey Bhai’s son, Sanjoo Kelavan, who currently leads Flash Entertainers.
In 2018, the prestigious National Culture Honours Award was conferred individually on all 18 members of Flash Entertainers at the Durban City Hall by the South African Hindu Dharma Sabha for their sterling contribution to the preservation and progress of Indian culture in South Africa.
