Concerts SA

19/08/2026

Increasingly, Afrobeats became less a description of a particular West African musical ecosystem and more international shorthand for contemporary African music itself. South African music, East African music, African R&B, African pop and records with very little meaningful relationship to the musical lineage Afrobeats emerged from could nevertheless find themselves classified under it.

At a certain point the category became almost comically elastic. African artist? Contemporary record? Some percussion in the general vicinity? Afrobeats will probably do. Meanwhile, Africans themselves are asking, "hoooow?" - Tshwanelo Maredi

How Afrobeats became the catch-all for African music, why that no longer works—and where APop might take us next.

14/08/2026

"Joshi’s passing is a reminder, if any were needed, of how much South Africa’s communities of Indian heritage and their music have contributed to ‘our kind of jazz’. That remains an under-documented but vitally important story that must be properly told." - Gwen Ansell

Music

It was with great sadness that we heard yesterday of the death of Ashish Joshi, tabla player, multi-instrumentalist and producer. He was 49 years old. Joshi received his first schooling in Indian t…

13/08/2026

📢 Attention Composers!
Nominations are open for the annual Helgaard Steyn-pryse , which will be awarded in the music composition category this year. The closing date is literally around the corner, but this lucrative award - exceeding R500 000 - I really worth the effort of applying, wouldn't you say.

Good Luck!

Die Helgaard Steyn-toekennings word jaarliks, in vierjaarlikse afwisseling, toegeken vir Skryfkuns, Beelhoukuns, Skilderkuns en Toonkunskomposisie.

09/08/2026

A future Household name is upon us. We present to you Lathitha August . She showed Up and Showed Off at . Our with Jozi My Jozi and the masses was a vibe. Heppi 💃🏽💃🏽

08/08/2026

Celebrating with Lathitha August at . Join us and Jozi My Jozi for a day

08/08/2026

We are excited to be celebrating with Lathitha August at .

07/08/2026

"Tackling abuse is imperative to create safer environments for teaching and professional music-making. And also to reckon with the harms that colonial and apartheid cultural production have carried into the present." - Carina Venter

Not even the movement and a reckoning with sexual abuse could rupture the sound-proof walls of South African classical music.

04/08/2026

Long Live the Legacy of Lucky Dube!

02/08/2026

Wishing both Monica Newton and Palesa Kadi all the best in their new roles

After five and a half years at the helm, our CEO, Monica Newton, steps down today.

Monica joined in 2020, weeks before Covid-19 brought live performance to a standstill worldwide, bringing with it one of the most challenging chapters in South Africa’s arts history. She led the Festival's team as we made a 100-day pivot to a fully filmed and streamed digital edition, keeping a financial lifeline open for artists when almost no other opportunities existed. She later steered the Festival through Stage 6 load-shedding, ensuring the show could go on when the power didn't.

Beyond the Festival itself, Monica spearheaded the NAF's management of the Social Employment Fund in Makhanda, putting the Festival's administrative and logistical skills to work rehabilitating local infrastructure and creating jobs in the city. She also helped found the Festival Enterprise Catalyst, securing funding from the Jobs Fund and uniting South Africa's major arts festivals to co-produce and tour work, creating longer, more sustainable opportunities for artists and technicians nationwide.

Her tenure also saw NAF celebrate its 50th anniversary, and three iterations of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's locally focused project, the Mandela Bay Arts Festival, in 2022, 2024 and 2025, a springboard for artists across the Eastern Cape.

In the words of the NAF Board Chairperson, Professor Siphiwo Mahala," her tenure at NAF reflects her commitment through principled advocacy on behalf of artists and the creative industries. Her contribution has steered the Festival through choppy waters and highlighted the need for more government and business support for the creative industries ecosystem. The board, staff and I are sincerely grateful for her commitment to artists and to the National Arts Festival."

Thank you, Monica, for the tenacity and inventiveness you brought to six National Arts Festivals and three Mandela Bay Arts Festivals. You were exacting about the things that mattered, resourceful in the face of things that seemed impossible and immovable where the Festival couldn’t afford to compromise. We wish you everything of the best for your next chapter and we hope to see you in the audience in 2027.

Monica is succeeded by Palesa Kadi.

Image: Robyn Davies

26/07/2026

Kumnandi kwa Niki's Oasis Jazz Restaurant today. Sun is shining and the music is so good that Gally Ngoveni joined the Shalom le Balifi🎷🎺🥁🛢️🪘 band stand. Sunday Lunch loading 🎺🎷🪊📯🥁 x