The late cultural icon Fitzroy Ngcukana to be celebrated through a Ngcukana Brothers Songbook concert at Niki’s Oasis

However, it is important to note a very important point about Fitzroy and his life journey. He came from a rich cultural home, with his family embedded strongly in jazz music from his father to his brothers. Actually they were part of the small but influential Cape Town jazz royalty of the time.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

If you have been living in Johannesburg for the past 20 years, there is no way your path has not crossed with his. Besides, he was a huge man, physically speaking, but also equally huge in the cultural sphere in and around Johannesburg for over two decades.

Be it in Berea, where he cooked a storm when it comes to traditional African food popular with the art and journalist tribes particularly hi famous skop, at Niki’s Oasis where he would hang out, if not assisting with sound for live shows, or at the annual Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, where he was a regular working behinds the scenes.

Fitzroy Ngcukana, had made Johannesburg his home, away from Langa, in Cape Town, where he was actually born. Many therefore, would have their ignorance excused if they thought he was actually from Johannesburg, for this was his home, and Cape Town was where he was born. This is especially in the past two decades.

However, it is important to note a very important point about Fitzroy and his life journey. He came from a rich cultural home, with his family embedded strongly in jazz music from his father to his brothers. Actually they were part of the small but influential Cape Town jazz royalty of the time.

In fact, Fitztroy and his brothers, Ezra Ngcukana and Duke Ngcukana, were part had their own group, the Ngcukana Brothers, a tight jazz outfit that performed a storm and created a rich heritage of jazz songs at the height of their career.

And just to give a deeper context of the depth of jazz in Ftzroy and his brothers, South Africa History Online has the following about this talented family of jazz musicians:

“Ezra Nyaniso Ngcukana was an exceptional, versatile jazz musician and the younger brother of fellow jazz legend Duke Ngcukana. His father was the prominent baritone and tenor saxophonist Christopher Columbus “Mra” Ngcukana.

Born in 1955, Ezra was surrounded by music in his home from a young age: “My first saxophone was not intended for me because nobody expected me to play saxophone, because I am a humble person.

To play the saxophone you got to be aggressive.” At 15, Ezra gave his first professional jazz performance. In 1972 he enrolled at the University of Fort Hare in Eastern Cape, where he joined the Village Art Quintet that his brother, Duke, had established at the university. He teamed up with Duke, Timmy Kwebulana, Buggs Gongco, Danayi Dlova and Victor Ntoni to form the Uptown Sextet. Later, he became involved in Lefifi Tladi’s group called “Dashiki” that fused political struggle poetry and music.

In 1973, Ezra was expelled from Fort Hare due to political disturbances. He went on to register at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics and Bachelor of Commerce in Quantitative Management. Amid his fine academic achievements, the carefree saxophonist was heavily involved in music.

He toured extensively nationwide as well as internationally and played in a number of bands: Fever, Four Sounds, Gery Spencer’s Jazz Cyclone and Sylvia Mdunyelwa’s Band, with whom he visited and performed with, in the Netherlands (North Sea Jazz Festival), Germany (Berlin Festival) and Japan. In 1989, he recorded his debut album ‘You Think You Know Me’.

He also recorded the album Brothers with fellow tenor saxophonist Duke Makasi, pianist Tete Mbambisa, bassist Victor Ntoni and drummer Lulu Junior Gontsana. He collaborated extensively with his four brothers – trumpeter Duke, vocalist Fitzroy, saxophonist Claude Gawe and keyboardist Cyril in music written by some of the country’s premier songwriters.

One of Ezra’s legacies is the Little Giants Band he established with pianist George Werner in 2000. Ezra was a brilliant student and a passionate mentor, always full of wisecracks and wit. His unexpected passing in 2010 left a hole in the hearts of his brothers, extended family, fans and fellow musicians.”

That is way back before he relocated to Johannesburg from Cape Town.  However, when Fitzroy passed on, this year in July, many in his wide network in Johannesburg, who would have loved to send him off in style, could not do so. Could not mourn and celebrate him, as his funeral was held in Cape Town, which understandably not everyone had the opportunity to attend.

However, there is yet another opportunity to celebrate the life and times of Fitzroy, as Niki’s Oasis, Jazz Restaurant is hosting a tribute show at its home in Newtown on Wednesday, September 30 titled Ngcukana Songbook. A hand-picked band made up of mostly jazz students, will play a selection of songs performed and composed by the then highly rated and famous group Ngcukana Brothers, of which Fitzroy alongside his brother, Ezra was a part of. This way, the whole show will be dedicated to Fitzroy.

.The Ngcukana Brothers Songbook tribute concert will start at 3pm on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, at Niki’s Oasis Jazz Restaurant in Newtown. RSVP is essential as there is limited seating. The number to RSVP is 0682287670.