The spirit of jazz legend Kippie Moeketsi to be evoked through music and book talk

This will be at the The celebrations 100 Years of Kippie Moeketsi: Celebrating a Music Genius and the Father of South African event in Newtown on July 27, 2025, featuring a jazz performance by the Tumi Mogorosi Trio preceded by a book talk.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

Today when you pass the Market Theatre front, walking towards the north, on your left, just before you reach the entrance to the National Arts Council offices on your right, you will see him there. He is in front of a heritage building that carries his name in recognition of the rich musical legacy he has left behind. This building has played multiple roles in post-Apartheid South Africa-all related to art and culture.

At one stage it was the late cultural impresario Arabi Mocheke and at another time music legend Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse who managed the place as a live music venue called Kippies Jazz Club. Both these prominent cultural figures in Johannesburg did their best to elevate the legacy of a man whose musical exploits are a stuff of legends today. That was though before the building was inexplicably closed for a number of years, leaving Johannesburg’s jazz music lovers high and dry, only for the building to bounce back a few years ago, to be managed by the Market Theatre Foundation this time around.

But today, here we are, crossing paths again with the great man of music, an intersection that triggers various emotions from those that love the beautiful art of jazz, a rich tradition in the evolution of South African music.

He is playing the saxophone. He is in a sitting position. There is a small bench on which you can sit and admire the artistry of this figure. Only though if you will not find someone else already taken the seat. This is because there are always people hanging around that sculpture of the figure of the late South African saxophonist Kippe Moeketsi. These are mainly out of work artists and others who while they pondering their next move, looking for the next gig or audition, they use this free town in Newtown to pay homage to a man who made a huge mark on the South African jazz scene over the years, both as a performer but also as a mentor to many a jazz artist in the country.

Kippie would have been 100 on July 27, 2025, had he lived till this day. However, death has failed to deter those who in one way or another have been touched directly or indirectly by this great man of jazz. One of those who have been touched by the work of Moeketsi is journalist Sam Mathe, who has penned a book, profiling South African musical talent, most of whom are jazz artists sharing the pages of his book with other musicians pursuing a diverse menu of musical genres.

The title of the book was clearly inspired by the work and times of the late saxophonist.

Mathe in collaboration with the Market Theatre Foundation have put together a celebratory and commemorative event on Sunday, that incorporates a book talk at Kippies and later a musical performance in the John Kani Theatre of the market Theatre.

Lots of fun, travelling down memory lane for those familiar with the sound and times of Kippie and of course the reimagining of the late musician’s space withinSouth Africa, will define this event titled The celebrations 100 Years of Kippie Moeketsi: Celebrating a Music Genius and the Father of South African Jazz.

The Market Theatre Foundation is honoured to celebrate the musical and cultural legacy of alto saxophonist and jazz musician, Jeremiah “Kippie” Moeketsi, who would be turning 100 on 27 July 2025. Curated by award-winning writer, author and journalist, Sam Mathe, the two-fold celebration will include a book discussion in Kippies as well as a free jazz concert at The Market Theatre.

For the first activity, Sam Mathe will discuss his seminal work, From Kippie to Kippies. The title is inspired by Kippie Moeketsi’s extraordinary career, as well as the vibrant Newtown jazz club – Kippiesof course named after him. This path-finding publication traces the footsteps of South Africa’s jazz movement, profiling key players and developments across four generations.

“From Kippie ToKippies is a timely and affirming addition to the ever-changing contemporary landscape, documenting the resilience of various artists as they rose – and continue to rise – from a history of pain and discrimination. In the process, the book casts light on South Africa’s musical creativity, which has often been condemned to the periphery,” statement released by the Market Theatre reads.

It will be interesting though to gauge how the young generations of jazz musicians will reimagine musically the legacy of this great man of music. This hige responsibility on the day will fall squarely on the shoulders of The jazz trio of drummer Tumi Mogorosi, saxophonist Muhammad Dawjee and bassist Nhlanhla Radebe.

This young generation of jazz musicians will join forces to pay tributetribute to Kippie, with their popular brand of jazz music, respected for its exceptional, multi-layered textures. It will be interesting to find out how the Tumi Mogorosi Trio will evoke the spirit of the departed artist who had hopes of his own as well as frustrations, something the current generation of musicians, unfortunately and ironically continue to experience in post-Apartheid South Africa due to the fragmented form of official funding for the creative and cultural sector in the country.

Hailed as the father of South African jazz, Kippie was born on 27 July 1925 and died on 27 April 1983, aged 58. In his times,instead of only pursuing personal glory,he also set aside time to mentor other musicians, including Abdullah Ibrahim, Jonas Gwangwa and Hugh Masekela, who went on to achieve fame, musical heights and respect internationally.

Kippie co-founded the Jazz Epistles, a band credited for revolutionising the local black jazz culture. In 1959, the Jazz Epistles released the first album by a black South African band, a significant milestone that gave Kippie and his peers iconic status.

When Jo’burg’s popular jazz club was established and needed a name, Abdullah Ibrahim named it after Kippie, in honour of his mentor and friend.

Currently, the 50-seater intimate arthouse is now a fringe venue for The Market Theatre Foundation, still breaking bold and fresh African stories through the Kippies Fringe programming.  

 “Kippies is a befitting venue for this historic event; a living monument to Kippie Moeketsi’s peerless legacy. I’m glad that it will play host to such an august occasion. Shortly after publishing ‘From Kippie to Kippies’ in 2021, I thought of an event that could be used to celebrate his legacy on his 100th birth anniversary. It therefore brings me immense joy that such a long-cherished dream is finally becoming a reality,” says event curator Mathe.

“Kippie Moeketsi and his generation gave South Africans a vocabulary of liberation through music, turning each venue into a crucible for resistance. As we mark what would have been 100 years of this music icon, we also take a moment to recommit ourselves to keeping our stages alive with bold music and culture-shifting live performances,” states The Market Theatre Foundation’s Artistic Director, Greg Homann.

And so, see you on Sunday, July 27, 2025 at kippies and the Market for this free event.

Spaces for the book talk though are limited to 50 spaces and are via invite only. To book free tickets to the jazz concert, visit Webtickets – https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1572828770 or follow the links via the Market Theatre’s website.