Thandiswa Mazwai’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert Hits 1 Million Views Ahead of Johannesburg Show
South African music icon Thandiswa Mazwai continues to make waves globally, with her NPR Tiny Desk Concert episode surpassing a remarkable 1 million views on YouTube. The milestone highlights Mazwai’s enduring resonance with audiences worldwide and comes just weeks ahead of her much-anticipated performance at The Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City in Johannesburg on Sunday, June 29.
Affectionately known as “King Tha”, Mazwai brought a deeply spiritual and moving performance to the renowned Tiny Desk stage in Washington, D.C., in April 2024. Her set included stirring renditions of beloved classics like “Nizalwa Ngobani?” and “Ingoma”, delivered with her signature blend of soul, jazz, and African tradition. Her performance was not only a hit with fans but also earned a spot on NPR’s list of the “10 Best Tiny Desk Concerts of 2024.”
Speaking about the milestone and her upcoming Johannesburg concert, Mazwai shared her excitement about revisiting two pivotal albums in her discography — “Belede” and “Sankofa.” “It is a special treat for our fans who always ask to see this music live,” she said. “‘Belede’ is, of course, a very special album for me and we are also celebrating a year since the release of Sankofa.”
Released in 2016, Belede is Mazwai’s third studio album — a powerful tribute to the legacy of South African jazz and protest music from the 1950s and 1960s. The project reimagines works by musical forebears such as Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela, infused with Mazwai’s emotive vocals and potent political consciousness.
Her latest album Sankofa, launched in May 2024, deepens her artistic exploration. The title, drawn from the Ghanaian Twi language, means “to go back and fetch what has been left behind,” reflecting the album’s core theme of reconnecting with heritage. Recorded across Johannesburg, Dakar, and New York, the album blends archival Xhosa samples, West African rhythms, and jazz elements, creating a cross-cultural tapestry of sound rooted in African memory and modern expression.
As Mazwai prepares to take the stage with a jazz quartet at the Lyric Theatre, fans can expect an evening of musical mastery that honours the past while embracing the future. The concert promises to be more than a live show — it’s a celebration of identity, legacy, and artistic freedom.
With her Tiny Desk success, a new album in rotation, and a major live show on the horizon, 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for Thandiswa Mazwai — one that solidifies her place among the greats of African music.
