Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
cape town international jazz festivallatest news & developments
Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse performs on the Kippies stage during the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Photo: Armand Hough

Forty years of fire: Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse ignites Cape Town Jazz Fest

Witnessing his fans dancing to ‘Burn Out’ proved to Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse his enduring power. The legend talks about his energy-filled performance at the Cape Town International…

Powerful presence: Fatoumata Diawara performing at the CTIJF 2026. Photo: Armand Hough

Fatoumata Diawara channels ancestry and activism in Cape Town

Blending Malian heritage with high-energy pop, Fatoumata Diawara used the CTIJF stage to honour her roots and confront FGM, proving that heritage and modern activism are…

British multi-instrumentalist and seven-time Grammy winner Jacob Collier performs on the Kippies stage at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in Cape Town. Picture / Henk Kruger / Independent Media

Reinventing the Cape Town International Jazz Festival without losing the jazz

Co-director Georgia Jones says the festival’s future depends on championing African artists, drawing younger audiences and making space for genres like amapiano without losing…

Audiences can expect a set that moves between Lordkez’s earlier, more experimental work and her newer, R&B-driven material.

Lordkez brings R&B-rooted sound to Cape Town International Jazz Festival debut

Blending R&B, soul and jazz, Lordkez arrives at CTIJF with a clearer sense of identity and a growing reputation as a compelling live performer.

As two major jazz festivals converge in the Western Cape, what seems like competition may reveal a deeper story of collaboration, resilience and creative possibility

Jazz in Sync: Why Festival “Competition” Could Be South Africa’s Greatest Collaboration

As two major jazz festivals converge in the Western Cape, what seems like competition may reveal a deeper story of collaboration, resilience and creative possibility

Amapiano kings: The appearance of DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small reflects how deeply the festival
has begun to engage with the evolving soundscape of the continent. Photo: Supplied

Cape Town International Jazz Festival composes its new era

From jazz legends to amapiano pioneers, CTIJF 2026 reflects a festival evolving with the times while remaining rooted in its rich cultural legacy

Masego at last year’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

Sabotage or Competition? Montreux Franschhoek Lands on Cape Town Jazz Festival Weekend

Two major jazz festivals. One weekend. The Western Cape’s music scene braces for an unusual clash between a global brand and a local institution.

Caption: Rashid Lombard at the Cape Town Press Centre in Shortmarket Street, 1989, photo from the Shadley Lombard archive.

Visionary with a camera: Rashid Lombard’s lasting legacy

Rashid Lombard, legendary photojournalist and jazz aficionado, has died at 74 — leaving behind a legacy of resistance, rhythm and relentless storytelling

Bright spark: Yussef Dayes from London lights up the stage at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival on Saturday. Photo: Fuad Esack

Festival shows jazz is safe in the hands of the youth

This weekend in Cape Town tells me jazz’s future is brighter than ever.

Going strong: The Hilton Schilder Quintet, which will be playing at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. (Gregory Franz)

A genuine musical trendsetter

From Joburg CBD dives of the 1980s to the Cape Town jazz fest, Hilton Schilder has been ahead of the curve

Jazz community: Bokani Dyer will entertain at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival with tracks from his album Radio Sechaba

Get your stylish footwear to these Cape Town International Jazz Festival picks

Here are Friday editor Charles Leonard’s 10 picks of the festival

Somewhere over the rainbow: Local artist Thandi Ntuli, whose latest album came out at the end of last year, will be playing an hour-long set at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival this weekend. Photo: Andile Buka

Thandi Ntuli: That beautiful connection …

Last year, South African jazz pianist Thandi Ntuli released her album Rainbow Revisited on International Anthem Records, to great acclaim. But what does it feel like to translate…

Say a little prayer: Zoe Modiga says that her just-released album Nomthandazo is different from the previous two, as it is ‘something of a hymnbook’. Photo: Tatenda Chidora Hilton
Video

Nomthandazo by Zoe Modiga: Seeing the heaven inside us

Let the music of Zoe Modiga guide you on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment

Debut: Kujenga is one of the local outfits that will be playing at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

Cape Town jazz festival tuning up after Covid lull

Like it’s theme, the festival will look to be refreshed after Covid

Quartet’s ‘Gratitude’ tour as right as rain

Swiss musician Banz Oester will be visiting South Africa with his quartet The Rainmakers to promote their new album

‘Generosity and genius’: For Jabba, aka Hip Hop Pantsula and HHP, music was a gateway to the world. (David Harrison)

Revisiting Planet Jabba

For a man to whom music was a mission, the local industry ultimately proved too narrow

Phlegmatic: Sifiso Ntuli from Roving Bantu Kitchen says we shouldn’t be reckless. (Delwyn Verasamy)

Covid-19 cancellations hurt artists

Artist have criticised the minister’s lack of vision; meanwhile, small businesses are also being hit hard

Organisers of Cape Town’s Two Oceans marathon have decided to pull the plug on the event. (Peter Heeger/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Covid-19 concerns close doors on Cape’s money-spinning events

The Two Oceans ultramarathon is latest in a slew of high-profile gatherings to be cancelled due to the pandemic

Although some belittled Lady Zamar’s revelations, many stood by her and threatened to cancel the Sjava until he was removed from the South African entertainment circuit. (JR Feel Good Live Sessions)

Lady Zamar: Is a woman’s word ever good enough on its own?

After news that house songstress Lady Zamar opened a rape case against hip-hop crooner Sjava, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival has removed him from its 2020 lineup

Trumpeter Marcus Wyatt remembers Roy Hargrove, who died this week. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Slice of life: Rest easy, Roy

‘He had beauty in him and perhaps more than just a little darkness’