The Muffinz to mark 14 years with a day of sound and social reflection
By Cityife Arts Writer
2026 marks 14 years since the release of The Muffinz’ debut album, and over a decade of existence as a fully independent South African band rooted in live performance, community-building, and cultural storytelling. To honour this milestone, The Muffinz are part of a collective hosting a full-day, dual-activation event that reflects both the values and celebratory spirit of their journey.
Taking place on Saturday, 28 February 2026 at Lit.Culture x Breezeblock Café in Brixton, the day brings together conversation, music, and collective reflection, recognising that culture is not siloed – it is lived.
Black Dads Unplugged: Conversation as Cultural Practice
The day begins with Black Dads Unplugged, an interactive workshop hosted in collaboration with Inception Men’s Book Club. The session features Dr Mzamo Masita, author of the widely discussed and deeply resonant book, This Country Hates Our Boys.
Hosting this conversation within a Literature space, that is also a music-adjacent cultural space is intentional. The questions raised in the book – around masculinity, media representation, violence, care, and survival are the same questions that surface in our music, our homes, and our shared social realities. The workshop invites these conversations to circulate openly among parents, artists, fathers, and communities navigating the complexities of raising children with dignity in difficult conditions.
Sfiso Atomza, musician and creative, and a collaborative founding member of both The Muffinz and Black Dads Unplugged, notes:
“The interactive workshop model understands something intuitively, that cultural work is not siloed… Music, literature, parenting, and politics are already entangled, and collectively, they hold the answers we’re searching for.”
The Muffinz Birthday Celebration: Music as Memory and Momentum
From 6pm, the focus shifts to the main event — The Muffinz 14th Birthday Celebration. Featuring live performances, DJs, and shared joy, the evening is both a celebration and a checkpoint.
Hosting this moment at Lit.Culture x Breezeblock carries deep significance for the band. Much of The Muffinz’ early material was written while members lived communally in Brixton. Returning to this neighbourhood is not an exercise in nostalgia, but a reflection on what has been built collectively — by musicians, audiences, venues, collaborators, and communities — often without formal support, but always with intention. Birthday shows, for us as The Muffinz, are moments to pause, acknowledge growth, and recommit to the work ahead.
“We’re here. We’re growing. And we’re grateful to everyone who has grown with us,” Sfiso Atomza says.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Saturday, 28 February 2026
Venue: Lit.Culture / Breezeblock Café
Address: 29 Chiswick Street, Brixton, Johannesburg
Black Dads Unplugged
Time: 11:30am – 3:00pm
Hosts: Black Dads Unplugged x Inception Men’s Book Club
Featuring: Dr Mzamo Masita
Focus: Masculinity, media representations of manhood and care, fatherhood preparation
Tickets: Free entry (donations welcome)
The Muffinz 14th Birthday Celebration
Time: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Programme: Live music, DJs, food, and celebration
Tickets: R150 – R300 on Webtickets. LiNK: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1588096336