The Newtown Jazz and Heritage Festival restores life, pride and rhythm to Newtown
Even young vendors and car guards managed to make money.
By Funeka Bambalele
The dull and almost-forgotten Newtown Precinct in Johannesburg CBD came alive this past weekend, thanks to the Newtown Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Staged with the intention of reviving a space that once pulsed with cultural energy, the second instalment of the festival took place at Museum Africa. Beyond the music, the event brought real activity back to the precinct — even young vendors and car guards managed to make money.
The festival was presented in collaboration with Niki’s Jazz Restaurant, a venue that has championed jazz for more than 30 years, the National Arts Council (NAC) and Niki’s Heritage & Creative Arts Foundation. And while it was centred on music, it also became a warm meeting point for old friends and acquaintances. The festival also had an element of an art exhibition which featured art works of artists including Patrick Mautloa.
Everything kicked off on a high note on Friday night with performances by Ncesh Nonxishi, Lex Futshane, Maleh and Nduduzo Makhathini. Whoever suggested that Ncesh open the festival deserves a round of applause. I’ve always known she has a beautiful voice, but her song arrangements and lyrical choices were a revelation. She has an uncanny ability to turn anything she observes into a song — her track about umbeko (leftovers) is a perfect example. Her set blended jazz, Xhosa folk, R&B and pop with effortless charm.
She was followed by the seasoned vocalist and songwriter Malehloka Hlalele, known to many as Maleh. With her mellow, sensual voice, she remains one of the few artists capable of making Sesotho language sound irresistibly sexy. A product of the Bloemfontein group Kaya — which rose to prominence during the Afro-pop boom — Maleh delivered a mix of new material and beloved classics.
Composer, educator and bassist Lex Futshane took over next. By the time he stepped on stage, Museum Africa was packed and the drinks were flowing and people were beginning to smile a lot. Futshane and his band shook the room with a powerful fusion set.
The night closed with scholar and jazz pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, who offered the audience a taste of Unomkhubulwane (the rain queen). During his set, he brought Omagugu Makhathini on stage to celebrate her birthday. He also reflected on how he and drummer Ayanda Sikade used to perform at Niki’s until 5am during their student days, thanking owners Zuko Rwaxa (Bra Zuk) and Simnikiwe Sondlo (Niki) for nurturing young talent.
Saturday night opened with Iphupho LikaBiko — a group rightly described as “the moment”. The Africanist experimental jazz collective is rapidly gaining popularity among jazz lovers. Their set was a rich tapestry of spiritual, artistic and political commentary, woven through jazz, traditional and gospel influences.
They were followed by pianist Yonela Mnana, whose echoes of Marabi filled the room, and then by legends Andile Yenana/Steve Dyer and the Ngwako Manamela Quintet.
The festival closed in regal fashion with queens of the stage Sibongile Mngoma and Siya Makuzeni, accompanied by the Jazz2Piano Orchestra — a fitting finale to a weekend that restored life, pride and rhythm to Newtown. Despite the usual teething problems that organisers often face, the event ran smoothly and successfully.