Celebrated jazz pianist Nduduzo Makhathini headlines a bigger second edition of Newtown Jazz and Heritage festival

Hosting five stages the festival which among others features Steve Dyer, Thembi, Bra Stompie Manana, who turns 90, Bra Pops Mahomed, and Bra Moss Mogale. Dunjana, Iphupho L’ka Biko and Ubuntu Experiment,will turn the precinct into an oasis of smooth and healing jazz sounds from January 23-25.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

When the festival made its debut last year last year at the Newtown Cultural precinct, in downtown Johannesburg, with the Market Theatre being its main hosting venue,  the whole place became abuzz. The other shows took place at Niki’s Oasis Restaurant across the street, the institution whose success over the years, in the first place was the inspiration behind the festival. Jaa lovers from across the province of Gauteng and beyond converged on the precinct it to get some inspiration for the beginning of the year, and inspiration the jazzophiles they go plentiful. After all apart from other to jazz entertainers, including a refreshing, improvised jazz sessions between South African artists and music academics from the US attached to UNISA’s College of music.

Now those who last year may have missed this refreshing jazz jamboree in downtown Johannesburg, which i9n everyway is assisting the effort to turn around Newtown into a vibrant cultural melting pot once, a glory that it basked in year gone by, that is before its c=gradual descent into a place that some fear to tread, must be happy to know that the Newtown Jazz and heritage festival is back and bigger.

“Yes, we are back and bigger and the festival is in fact on its way to becoming the biggest jazz festival in downtown Johannesburg. And this time, we are featuring a big name, none other than Nduduzo Makhathini, among other =jazz luminaries, veterans who will share the stage with young music blood,” the founder of the festival SimnikiweSondlo told CITYLIFE/ARTS in an interview this week.

Niki as she is popularly known in jazz and hospitality circles, started Niki’s Oasis Restaunt in 1997, a place that has over the years hosted live jazz music. Many a contemporary jazz artist in the country has since performed on the stages of Niki’s. And most importantly, the place has kept its doors open to jazz musicians for live shows, established and emerging under an extremely difficult economic environment for live jazz venues as one after another many a jazz venue has closed down, but Niki’s has remarkably soldiered on. In the process the place is regarded as a resilient jazz venue in Gauteng. Sondlo therefore formed a Non-Profit organization, Niki’s Arts and Heritage Foundation, which organizes the annual Newtown Jazz and heritage Festival.

It therefore makes sense that the person who has kept the spirit of live jazz in downtown Johannesburg, is the person at the forefront of reviving live jazz in the inner city is the same person behind the Newtown Jazz and heritage festival. Newtown also suffered a blow when the joy of Jazz festival relocated from Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown to Sandton Convention Centre and therefore creating a vacuum for another festival in the precinct, a favourite to many a jazz lover as it is accessible.

Newtown Jazz and Heritage Festival 2025

The Newtown Jazz & Heritage Festival returns for its second edition in January 2025, celebrating South Africa’s rich jazz legacy. This year’s festival expands its scope significantly, with an eclectic lineup spanning traditional and contemporary South African jazz, featuring up-and-coming stars, seasoned legends, and global icons. Set in Johannesburg’s iconic Newtown Precinct, the festival promises to immerse audiences in the history and ongoing evolution of jazz.

A cornerstone of this year’s celebration is Niki’s Oasis Jazz Restaurant, which marks 30 years as a beacon of talent development and mentorship in the South African jazz community.

“Many of the artists featured in this lineup began their journeys at Niki’s Oasis Jazz Restaurant,” says Sondlo, founder of Niki’s Oasis and the Newtown Jazz & Heritage Festival. 

“Over the past 30 years, Niki’s has been a cornerstone of talent development, offering musicians a platform to showcase their work. The venue has provided invaluable mentorship and support to emerging artists, promoting growth by pairing young, up-and-coming musicians with seasoned artists who serve as role models. This commitment has cemented Niki’s legacy as a nurturing ground for creativity and excellence in the jazz community.”

Beyond celebrating Niki’s remarkable three decades, the festival will honour three centenarians who helped define South African jazz: Isaac “Zacks” Nkosi, Edmund “Ntemi” Piliso, and Jeremiah Kippie “Morolong” Moeketsi. Legendary saxophonist Khaya Mahlangu will deliver a special tribute to Kippie, ensuring his enduring legacy continues to inspire new generations.

“Kippie was hailed as the Father of South African Jazz by the giants of the local jazz scene,” says Simon Ndlovu, founder of The Best of South African Jazz and a strategic partner for the festival. “Recognising his centenary is essential to preserving our cultural heritage.”

The festival, now five times larger than its inaugural edition, underscores the importance of the Newtown Precinct as a cultural hub for jazz. Over the years, the precinct has served as a platform where artists present their work, ideas flourish, and the heritage of South African jazz thrives.

The festivities kick off on Thursday, 23 January, with an in-depth presentation delving into Kippie Moeketsi’s life and influence. This will be followed by a dynamic program of performances on the 24th and 25th of January at the Newtown Cultural Precinct, celebrating the depth and diversity of South African jazz.

The festival’s programming reflects its five core pillars:

.Living Legends Stage: Hosted at Niki’s Oasis, this stage will feature jazz veterans aged 70 and older, including Bra Stompie Manana, who turns 90, Bra Pops Mahomed, and Bra Moss Mogale. Their performances will honour the genre’s storied past while inspiring the future.

.Heritage Stage: Renowned artists such as Nduduzo Makhathini, Steve Dyer, and Thembi Dunjana will explore the enduring legacy of South African jazz on the global stage.

.Youth Stage: Showcasing rising stars like Iphupho L’ka Biko and the Ubuntu Experiment, this stage highlights how young artists are redefining the boundaries of jazz.

.Intimate Sessions: Reserved for limited audiences, these performances will focus on the subtle and intricate nuances of jazz.

.Emerging Talent Stage: Spotlighting the next wave of South African jazz artists poised to make their mark on the industry.

“The festival wouldn’t be what it is without the community of Newtown,” Sondlo adds. “It’s a space where jazz lives, where stories are told, and where history is made.”

Tickets for the Newtown Jazz & Heritage Festival are now available via Webtickets.

Ticket Information:

• Day Pass: Adults: R450 | Students & Pensioners: R250 (Limited to 100 for the weekend)
• Weekend Pass: Adults: R800 | Students: R400

No on-site sales will be conducted, so advance purchase is encouraged to secure your place at this unmissable celebration of South African jazz.