Story of South African Jazz

Story of South African Jazz Volume Two

“Story of South African Jazz Volume 2 is an expansive, deep-prying chronicle of Southern African music, that in urban settings and modernisations metamorphosed into African Jazz. A tumultuous journey from the villages, into mine compounds, into performance halls, into distant lands and continents. It is a spirited record and memory of many musicians who could have never been remembered, but for the pages in this book. Together with Story of South African Jazz Volume One this book is must collection for all music schools, andshould be included in reading lists of music schools,” Macingwane

“The Story of South African Jazz is an important addition to the existing research. Resources and stories that have emerged from all over the region of Southern Africa. This three-volume series is a book, research and oral history project to document the beautiful story of South African jazz in an open inclusive, flourishing and accessible way. Volume one was launched in 2015 and volume two will be launched in Durban and Johannesburg in December 2019,” Art Africa.


“This is a journey through musical histories of South Africa’s eras of social, political, and even spiritual changes. One’s fellow passengers are the musicians as the ride runs through various urban and peri-urban African communities to mega-cities, like Johannesburg with its surrounding mines which absorbed a myriad of African dance and musical expressions from miners. The passengers chat loudly and excitedly, remembering days gone past.” Carol Martin All Jazz Radio


Johannesburg Event celebrating the launch of Story of South African Jazz Volume Two took place 12.12.20 at the Roving Bantu Kitchen and featured blind pianist Yonela Mnana and guest star Barney Rachabane

Kgethi Nkotis performing live in eThekwini Durban KwaZulu Natal 06/12/19. Concert by Jazz Expressions, eThekwini Municipality, Business Arts South Africa and Curiocity.


South African Author Struan Douglas