Manteca is Durban’s hot Afro-Caribbean Salsa band. The Band has been moving hips and lighting up dance floors around the various salsa and live music venues in KZN and JHB since 2009.

The band is currently an 8 piece line up consisting: Raul Vasquez (a bona fide Salsa Dance Champion and instructor) on male vocals, Nosihe Zulu on female vocals, Avikaar Maney on Alto sax, Johan van der Molen on Tenor sax, Daniel Sheldon on Trumpet, Alberto Chemane on percussion/kit, Monks Legget on Bass and Avinash Maney on keys and Guitar.

Our repertoire includes some traditional and folkloric Afro Caribbean songs (Anabacoa, RanKanKan, La Esencia del Guaguanco) as well as some more contemporary tunes (Havana, Despacito, All of Me) and some Latin favorites (Oye Como Va, Labamba, Guantanamera) and some Latin versions of our own South African favorites (Pata Pata, Ntjilo Ntjilo, Meadowlands).

Manteca | Salsa band

We have a crew of Salsa dancers that can be brought in to share and activate your Dance floor as well as some professional Dancers who can lead your guests in a fun and interactive Salsa line dance (a fantastic ice breaker) and do some dance Demo features and even lead a class on the beginner steps of Salsa.

The band has evolved over the years varying between a 13 piece and an 8 piece line up featuring a culturally diverse array of individuals with a passion for the intense rhythmically charged art form of Afro Caribbean music (a fusion itself of European classical and African musical traditions).

Durban’s hot-blooded, authentic, cooking Afro Cuban Salsa Band. Continuing the evolution and journey of Salsa and making it a part of Durbans Rich Cultural identity.

The band has over its existence featured at many corporate, cultural and sport events with even a favorably reviewed show at the local Rhumbelow Theatre.

Manteca (meaning Fat or Grease) loves fusing ideas of Music, Dance, Art, Architecture, Culture and Fashion (even inspiring a range of “Manteca Shirts” by Designer KMK).

Contact us at Speakers Inc and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Kevin Fine has 25 year career that has spanned Executive Leadership, National Broadcasting, Brand Management, Community Development and Entrepreneurship.

He is a regular speaker on the local and international circuit as well as inside corporates, and the media industry at large. Fine shares his collaborative views through articles, speaking panels, and keynote presentations applying his experience and interests on topics including: Company Culture, the Content Economy, Thought Leadership, Sustainability, Business Growth, Audience Monetisation and Future Trends.

More recently and after 8 years leading the biggest regional radio channel in South Africa – Jacaranda FM, Fine was appointed Managing Director of a new business called “Expedite” within the Kagiso Media Radio division. The business focuses solely on accelerating businesses by innovatively leveraging media resources and inventory. He has since left and stepped in to the Entrepreneurial and speaking world full time.

Kevin Fine was a key part of Jacaranda FM’s success and leaves the station with audience numbers in South Africa’s top 10. Digital engagement and reach achieved unprecedented levels, with both jacarandafm.com and the station’s the biggest YouTube channel in the number 1 spot in the country. Internally during 2019, the station’s culture was qualified as a Gold Best Company to Work For in the Deloitte and Touche survey.

Kevin Fine | Leadership Speaker

Kevin Fine major achievements were ensuring a strong CAGR, profitability, brand presence and benevolence. Under his leadership, the station also received prestigious accolades, with more than 30 awards, from listeners and industry peers, including: “Commercial Radio Station of the Year” 2015 The Roger Garlick Award, a Gold Loerie, and an International One Show Award for the “More Music You Love” Live Billboard Campaign.

Three major sustainability projects completed included Project Khanya distributing light to 25000 homes, Project Water Drop which delivered millions of liters of water to drought stricken communities before sinking boreholes and wells, and Hearts for Mandela Day ensuring heart surgery for 67 children.

Prior to Kevin Fine time at the station, Kevin was CEO at 101.9 Chai FM, brought in to remodel, reformat and relaunch the station in 2010.

Additionally, Kevin Fine also founded (and is a director of) the Little Champs Sports Academy, A sports development programme for early childhood. His passion for sport, and sports marketing also saw him manage the EA FIFA game Franchise in South Africa for 3 years and running the FIFA Interactive World Cup Event for South Africa. He also went on to head up the Football For Hope Program, Alexandra at the FIFA World Cup 2010.

Contact us at Speakers Inc and subscribe to our YouTube channel