Niki’s Oasis Jazz Restaurant recognised as a Heritage institution

“The heritage plaque is therefore not only about bricks and mortar. It is about resilience, cultural preservation, and the power of the arts to bring people together,” says owner Simnikiwe Sondlo.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ART Editor

Iconic Newtown Cultural Precinct based jazz restaurant received a boost this week when the building was recognised as a heritage building by the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation, and Eric Itzki Deputy Director of Immovable Heritage at the City of Johannesburg whose responsibilities focuses on heritage sites, monuments, commemorative practice, and public art, immediately sealed the fate of Niki’s Oasis Restaurant as a heritage building by installing the blue plaque on its wall.  

The building was among five other land mark buildings that on the same day were recognised as heritage buildings by the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation, including Dr AB Xuma’s House in Sophiatown and the Mills building, also in Newtown.

The recognition of Niki’s Oasis especially should make jazz fans and jazz musicians especially excited as the establishment has for the longest of time proved to be resilient as a live jazz venue, even during the difficult days when other jazz venues have come and gone, but Niki’s has remained and continues to be a home to live jazz in Johannesburg.

For over 31 years, Niki’s Oasis Jazz Restaurant has stood as a home of jazz, memory, culture and community in the heart of Newtown. The building has witnessed generations of artists, dreamers, workers, tourists, students and jazz lovers walk through its doors.

Indeed what began as vision to create a welcoming cultural space, has grown into an important part of Johannesburg’s heritage story. Through jazz, indigenous food, storytelling and the celebration of African creativity, Niki’s Oasis has preserved not only music, but the spirit of the people.

“The heritage plaque is therefore not only about bricks and mortar. It is about resilience, cultural preservation, and the power of the arts to bring people together. It recognises the contribution that this space has made to Newtown, to Johannesburg and to South African heritage.

“I would like to thank the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation, our supporters, artists, staff, family, friends and the Newtown community for believing in this journey. May this plaque remind future generations that heritage is alive –it lives in our buildings, our music, our food, our stories and in the communities that keep these stories alive,” an elated Simnikiwe Sondlo, the owner of Niki’s Oasis said.