CAPE TOWN, South Africa –
The U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) Band arrived in Cape Town, South Africa to hold community engagement performances, Oct. 6, 2021.
The NAVEUR-NAVAF Band last visited South Africa in 2011.
"It is an honor and privilege to perform for the community in beautiful Cape Town. The connections we build through music bridge our cultures and we are excited for future collaborative projects," said Lt.j.g. Nicholas Nadal, Assistant Director, Naval Forces Europe-Africa Band.
During the visit, the NAVEUR-NAVAF band will perform aboard the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) during a leadership engagement with South African military and government delegates. The band will also visit Expresso Morning Show and hold a master class with Stellenbosch University’s music department.
“We are happy to welcome the band to Cape Town. They are here to accompany the visit of the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams and senior leaders from the U.S. Navy and U.S Coast Guard,” said William Stevens, Acting U.S. Consul General to South Africa. “Through engagements with local schools, media and musicians, we hope they will share their love of music with local audiences.”
The NAVEUR-NAVAF Band is the U.S. Navy’s official band in Europe and is stationed in Naples, Italy. The Band reaches a combined audience of more than 60 million people throughout over 35 countries in the course of more than 500 engagements annually. Uniquely, the NAVEUR-NAVAF Band is comprised of active duty U.S. Navy musicians and augmented by service musicians from Italy who unite to fashion dynamic specialty units.
The U.S. shares a common interest with African partner nations in ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation on the waters surrounding the continent, because these waters are critical for Africa’s prosperity and access to global markets.
For over 70 years, U.S. Sixth Fleet forces have forged strategic relationships with our allies and partners and solidified a foundation of shared values, experiences, and vision aimed at preserving security and stability.
U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.