If you were a teenager in the 80s (and especially if you frequented Hillbrow like this journalist did), you will understand the impact Cinema had on a generation. They were not background noise. They were part of the soundtrack of Gen X South Africa, on dance floors, in discos, on long drives with cassettes in the tape deck, and on radios permanently tuned to the charts and to Alex Jay on Radio 5.

We all had our favourite song. For some it was My Kind of Girl. For others, Inside and Out. In my case (and in the case of my friends like Jo’burg’s coolest hairdresser Sasha), Inside and Out still goes on repeat, and yes, I know every word. Perhaps Inside and Out was my song of choice, and the fact that I was 17, 18 and 19 from '87 to '89 had something to do with it, because teen students take lyrics literally. Besides, hormones were doing what hormones do. Meanwhile, discos were our stomping grounds and Thunderdome felt more like home than your one-bedroom apartment (the one adjacent to the railway tracks, where a single can of baked beans was standing alone in the fridge, growing hair)… and love, yes, love felt enormous and more than slightly dramatic.

Underground venues that were probably questionable choices in retrospect, big hair, tight fitting, low rising jeans, putting 20c of petrol in your car to get from Krugersdorp to Hillbrow, that was our world. And that can of baked beans? Don’t know what happened to that, because at Burger Box Roadhouse, 50c to R1 went a long way to satisfy a hungry stomach.

To this day, anything Cinema can stir all of the above in an instant.

From their 1987 breakout hit My Kind of Girl to a string of Top 10 singles, Cinema became one of the defining pop bands of the late 80s and early 90s. They toured extensively, built a loyal following, and even charted internationally. Years passed and members followed different paths, the music never quite disappeared, it simply lived in memory and in once-hormonal-80s-teens’ homes and cars.

Now Cinema is back on stage, reconnecting with audiences who grew up with their sound and introducing it to a new generation. The current line-up keeps its original backbone intact, with Chris Frank on bass and keyboards, Mike Todd on guitar, and Larry Rose on drums.

Stephan Nel has stepped in as lead vocalist, bringing renewed energy to the front of the stage while respecting the band’s legacy. The line-up has also been strengthened by Connie Bentlage on saxophone and keyboards, adding a fresh layer of texture to the live performances and broadening the band’s sound beyond the familiar hits.

Cinema today is not simply a reunion act. It is a band that has evolved, blending experience with new energy and continuing to perform with the kind of presence that made them a defining force in the first place.

They are open-minded and not confined to nostalgia only. They have released new material and continue to evolve, and their live performances are more than a throwback set. Recent singles such as Elephant in the Room and I Believe In You show a band still writing and recording with intent. Elephant in the Room has been described in music press as a “shimmering pop gem” featuring infectious hooks and emotive lyrics, capturing both the band’s timeless spirit and renewed energy.

The newer material reflects a group that understands its melodic roots while embracing contemporary production, proving that this is not simply a reunion built on memory, but a creative chapter still unfolding. This is a band that understands its history, but is not stuck in it.

Cinema will open the OppiDam Music Festival 2026 at Vygeboom Dam on Friday, October 2, kicking off a weekend line-up that will run through until late Saturday night. It promises to be a proper dam-side celebration of music and memory under the Lowveld sky.

If Cinema formed part of your youth, or if you are a millennial, a child of Gen X who grew up with Cinema blasting from a proper hi-fi system in the lounge, pumping through the speakers and subwoofer of your parents’ sound system, this is one weekend worth planning for.

Although October may still feel like a while away, the history of this festival has shown that many people were disappointed in recent years because they waited too long to book. Accommodation at OppiDam is limited and bookings are already open.

Make it a weekend to remember at OppiDam. Book early and don’t miss out.

📞 WhatsApp: 066 327 1068
✉ Email: bookings@oppidam.co.za
🌐 Website: https://www.oppidam.co.za/

Africa InTouch News will keep readers updated as more artists are confirmed, and over the coming months we will introduce the line-up as it takes shape.