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Music lovers are in for a soul-stirring of smooth vibes as some of Mzansi’s biggest stars will share the stage with Africa’s talent at Thandiswa Mazwai’ Sankofa Heritage Festival.
Thandiswa’s 30-year music journey will be celebrated at a one-night spectacle on February 28 at the Big Top Arena, Carnival City, marking the launch of a significant annual cultural festival.
Grammy-nominated Somi and acclaimed Msaki join Mazwai on stage, marking a years-long, global creative sisterhood.
Also on the bill are Jahseed, Madala Kunene, Thandi Ntuli, Sivuyile and crowd-favourite DJ Kenzhero, who will close the night with a vibrant set celebrating South African sounds.
The festival is set to be an unforgettable showcase of her artistic evolution.
Renowned and multi-award-winning Thandiswa is one of South Africa’s most influential post-apartheid singers, a fearless musical voice who speaks his mind.
Audiences can expect a deeply immersive performance — part concert, part ritual — featuring music drawn from across her solo catalogue. It’s a moment of reflection, gratitude and celebration.
She carries South African culture wherever she goes, and next week will be no different as she will sizzle on stage. Festival is a cultural movement, a tribute to indigenous African music and storytelling.
It amplifies the sounds and traditions often overlooked in mainstream platforms, carrying ancestral echoes that connect generations.
This inaugural event marks the birth of an annual celebration of African heritage, a powerful expression of identity, unity, and rhythm.
“I have lived a life beyond my wildest dreams. I want to be remembered as someone who used their gifts to be of service to others.
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“I am so excited to have my dear friends Somi and Msaki as co-headliners for the inaugural year of Sankofa Fest.
“For years, these sisters have shared stages globally. Somi, a Rwandan/Ugandan musician focused on archives, collaborated on her Miriam Makeba album.
“Msaki, a cultural worker fostering young artists, will perform at Sankofa Fest with an ensemble from Sudan and Kenya,” she expressed.
At the festival, Thandiswa is expected to perform music from all of her solo albums.
Sankofa Festival’s feeling
She said the show is to give thanks to everyone who has supported her and the beautiful people who listen to her music. Added that she is looking forward to singing along with her fans.
“Returning to Johannesburg to perform at Thandiswa Mazwai’s Sankofa Festival feels deeply personal.
“Thandiswa is not only a towering artist but [also] a dear sister whose strength, sonic imagination, and uncompromising commitment to Africa’s past and future always keep me inspired.
“To be a part of the first iteration of a festival she has dreamed into being — grounded in memory, return, and forward motion — is an honour.
“Marking my first appearance in South Africa in four years, in the company of my sister and friend, makes this return to Johannesburg, and this moment of reunion, especially meaningful,” Somi said
Tickets are available for R400 via Computicket.
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