PRETORIA, May 1 -- It was a nostalgic afternoon as legendary musicians Sipho Mabuse and Yvonne Chaka Chaka lighted the room with their legendary presence, transporting the audience back to the 1980s during Tanzanias National Day celebrations in Pretoria, South Africa.

The hall came alive with a mix of joyous voices as the self-declared friend of Tanzania, Mabuse, stepped onto the stage, partly singing some of his past hits including “Zanzibar.”

His narration stirred memories among the fully packed crowd comprising of Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to South Africa, Head of International Organizations; South Africas representatives led by Mkhuleko Hlengwa, the Deputy Minister of Transport, and members of Tanzani...