SA: 25th Joy of Jazz fest announces line-up

To celebrate the milestone, the curators have crafted a quarter-century instalment with not-to-be-missed musical performances and lifestyle experiences. The festival will showcase jazz idioms from the African continent, Europe, East Asia and the Americas “to weave a truly global vision of jazz as a world unifying musical idiom.” It will feature artists from more than 10 countries across five stages in two days.

Festivalgoers can look forward to exciting performances, including a tribute set dedicated to Zimbabwean music icon Oliver Mtukudzi by Samantha Mtukudzi,  Maduvha Madima, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Mbeu. The event will also witness the return of festival favourites such as Malian blues queen Fatoumata Diawara and South African singer-songwriter Thandiswa Mazwai, who will present her new project Sankofa with the Senegalese band that originally recorded the music. 

“We are heartened and energised by the milestone of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz turning 25 years,” Joy of Jazz producer Mantwa Chinoamadi said. “We’ve been blessed to consistently showcase the best in class jazz and lifestyle from South Africa and the world. It underscores the festival not only as a premier jazz event on the African continent, but as a destination event that also drives economic and cultural development in the city and the region. This is an important contribution we wish to grow and deepen into the future.”

The festival will kick off with a series of activations across the city of Johannesburg and its surroundings in the lead up to the main event.

Tickets to the festival can be purchased here.

Standard Bank Joy of Jazz line-up:

• Chris Botti (US)
• Matthew Halsall (UK)
• Feya Faku (SA)
• Darren English ft. Kenny Banks Jr (SA/US)
• Chucho Valdes Royal Quarted (Cuba/US)
• Sibongile Mngoma (SA)
• Victor Masondo (SA)
• Keiko Matsui ft. Nokukhanya Dlamini (Japan/SA)
• Sibusiso Mashiloane (SA)
• Mandisi Dyantyis (SA)
• Siparia Deltones (Trinidad and Tobago)
• Tutu Puoane (SA/Belgium) 
• Fatoumata Diawara (Mali)
• Lizz Wright (US) ft. Brenda Mtambo (US/SA)
• Spha Mdlalose (SA)
• Mimi Mtshali (SA)
• Jessica Pina (Portugal)
• Sven Rozier Group ft. Ellister van der Molen (South Korea and Netherlands)
• Mpumi Dhlamini (SA)
• Karen Devroop (SA) 
• Samantha Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe)
• Maduvha Madima (SA)
• Yvonne Chaka Chaka (SA)
• Mbeu (Zimbabwe)
• Nina Reframed and the South African Air Force band (SA) 
• Maleh (Lesotho/SA)
• Thandiswa Mazwai (SA) 
• Micasa (SA) 
• Vusi Nova (SA)
• Mafikizolo (SA)
• iPhupho L'ka Biko (SA) 
• Bongiziwe Mabandla (SA) 
• Ihhashi Elimhlophe (SA)
• Groove Street (SA) 
• JustThemba (SA)
• DJ Kenzhero, Nothemba Madumo and Tha Muzik (SA)