Missing video
Sorry, this video could not be found.
A fusion of sound
South African Jazz
Jonas Gwangwa, famous jazz musician from South Africa
© Standard Bank Joy of Jazz
Did you know?
The annual Jazz on the Lake, held every September, is the largest free event on Johannesburg's annual entertainment calendar.
South African jazz has a way of getting under your skin. Its distinctive voice tells the story of a century of collaboration and conversation between African musicians and artists from across the globe. It is dynamic, unexpected and yet familiar in the way it constantly re-interprets the genre from a South African perspective.
African-American jazz began reaching South Africa in the early 20th century. The influence and popularity of ragtime and dixieland music lead to the development of a uniquely South African musical form called marabi. This mixed American sounds with African cyclical harmonies and a trance-like rhythm. It took the country by storm and, with the onset of swing, the music became progressively more complex.
Kwela, a musical style that made the pennywhistle an indispensible part of its sound, was followed by the sleek, sophisticated rhythms of mbaqanga, a genre that combines guitar and bass with brass.
These sounds evolved with the influence of the many South African jazz musicians who lived in exile during the apartheid-era, including legends such as Hugh Masekela, Abdullah Ibrahim and the late Miriam Makeba. When they returned home, their music reflected their international experiences as much as it reflected the local legacy of artists such as guitarist Philip Tabane and saxophonists Kippie Moeketsi and Winston 'Mankunku' Ngozi.
Today, South African jazz is more popular than ever. It is continuously revitalised by talented young musicians, a mix of graduates from tertiary institutions and community-based jazz education programmes, who are engaging with their music and their context in innovative ways and winning fans in the process.
Travel tips & Planning info
What will it cost
Price will depend on who is performing and where. Expect to pay anything from R40 to R600 per person.
What to pack
Your dancing shoes – South Africans love to boogie during live jazz shows.
What's happening
There are 2 major annual jazz events on the South African calendar: the Joy of Jazz festival in Johannesburg in August and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in March. There are also numerous smaller jazz and music festivals held across the country, while live jazz venues abound in all of South Africa's main cities and towns.
Best buys
A huge variety of South African jazz, both contemporary and traditional, can be found in music retail stores around the country.