Johannesburg pulsed with rhythm this past weekend as the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, produced by T-Musicman, lit up the city for three unforgettable nights.
From “The Voice” Ntate Vusi Mahlasela to the artistry of Moss Mogale, the four stages carried conversations across generations. I had the privilege of MCing the Conga Stage on Saturday, and what struck me most was the energy — artists and audience meeting each other halfway, turning performance into communion.
The line-up stretched across the globe: Esperanza Spalding, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, José James, Meshell Ndegeocello, Oumou Sangaré, Alune Wade, Steve Bedi, Gabi Motuba, Thandi Ntuli, and many more. From the USA to Mali, Ghana to South Africa, Turkey to the Czech Republic, jazz proved once again it speaks every language with one heartbeat.
Beyond the music, the Jazzy Joburg Market gave us food, colour, and connection. One festival-goer said it best: “This is not just music, it’s medicine.”
Joy of Jazz 2025 was more than a festival, it was Joburg affirming itself as a global jazz capital — a city that doesn’t just host jazz, but lives it.