Performer

Mosoeu Ketlele is a musician, actor, storyteller, teacher, puppet artist and a well-rounded multi-talented creative. He is an internationally acclaimed performer, storyteller and expert in indigenous and traditional musical instruments. He has shared the world stage with acclaimed artists. Mosoeu plays a variety of South African Traditional instruments such as Setorotoro, Umakhoyane, Urhadi, Mtshingo, Exxhara, Lebhalabhala, Segankula and Traditional Drums.

Jesse comes from a musical family and an environment rich with indigenous multicultural traditional music. Jesse holds a BSc (Chemistry) degree from the University of Witwatersrand. He later sacrificed the periodic table for music notes when he decided to leave the mining industry (gold refining) to focus on music performance and providing the much-needed music education to disadvantaged black children in Mamelodi.

Miss Mapula Rachabane is one of the most experienced in singing, song writing and live performance. She is a rare species as the late Dr Johnny Mekwa would say. Growing up around the greatest South African Musicians in South Africa through, legendary saxophonist father Barney Rachabane.

Ngwako Manamela was born at Riverside and raised in Mamelodi. While performing with other bands he caught the sharp ear and eye of Hugh Masekela who encouraged him to embark on a solo career. The result was his debut CD, Ngwako Ramelodi. The professional vibraphonist and band leader was inspired by the American muso Milt Jackson in the 1970s. By 2007 he had established the Manamela Bokamoso School of Creative Art in Soshanguve. The school was
sponsored by UNISA, while studio facilities were provided by Chissa Music.

Born in East London, South Africa, Lwanda Gogwana is a renowned musicologist, composer & recording artist and specializes in the therapeutic uses of music training & development programs.

Nombasa’s origins are in Makhanda (formerly known as Grahamstown), Eastern Cape. She is a singer, songwriter and possesses vast gifts in arts and audio production. Her music is a fusion of sounds immersed in modern Afro Soul and Acoustic folk. A talented performer, she writes emotionally evoking songs and some speak to South Africa’s current socio-political issues and the vast fabric of its identity.

Saxophonist Theo Mngaza began playing jazz at a very young age. He was born and raised in Gqeberha, Motherwell Eastern Cape, South Africa. Theo, who is only 19 years old and has the potential for a successful career, has already been in many performances.

Qhawekazi is an ethnomusicologist, researcher, musician, writer, and teacher, originally from East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Her research, teaching, and performance interests lie in the presentation of indigenous knowledge systems and jazz music.

As a musician and composer, Christopher Dell works at the intersection of contemporary composed and improvised music.

To date, Christian Lillinger can be heard on about 100 recordings, including 23 under
his own name. In 2021 he received the German Jazz Award in two categories “Artist of the Year” and “Drums / Percussion”. Percussion” the German Jazz Award.

Zintle Neahtyah Mbuyazwe is an African jazz music songwriter, vocalist, and performer. Born in Eastern Cape Engcobo in a village called Clarkebury. Currently she is studying music at the University of Fort Hare, specialising in Vocal Jazz and Jazz studies.

Born and raised in the township of Mdantsane, Sakhile started playing music at a very early age in The Salvation Army Brass Band in 2007.

Sakhi Nompozolo is a drummer, arranger and a bandleader from Nelson Mandela Bay. He started playing drums at the age of 13.

Allen Jacobson is a Trombonist/Vocalist/Composer/Arranger/Educator who has performed throughout Canada and internationally for many years. He is also an Arts/Culture consultant, cultural manager for a major Canadian institution and is the director of one of Western Canada’s largest winter cultural festivals.