Jah Seed and Admiral Set to Ignite Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival
For more than two decades, reggae and dancehall duo Jah Seed and Admiral have been inseparable, carrying the torch for the genre in South Africa. The pair is set to perform at the Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival on Saturday, 13 September 2025, at Constitution Hill in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
The two first met in the early 1990s when Admiral, born Andy Kasrils, was a radio host. Their shared passion for music created an instant bond that has lasted over 20 years. Admiral credits their brotherhood and shared history for their longevity in the industry. “Brotherhood and the long history of playing music together, all those Thursday nights when we hosted weekly shows, all the good times, all the history of our sound system, African Storm, and our DJ partnership and friendship, have really made us stick together as a combination for all these years,” he said.
Jah Seed, whose real name is Anesu Mupemi, told Daily Sun that music has always been their driving force. Fans attending Basha Uhuru can expect a high-energy performance. “We’re basically going to give them what they want when we play. We’re going to play our hits, our anthems, big reggae tunes from their favourite artists, and then present our own Admiral-Jah Seed way, spinning the music and with Jah Seed’s fire voice on the microphone,” he said.
Despite a limited 30-minute set due to multiple acts, Jah Seed promises a performance that will entertain and educate. “Basha Uhuru is about freedom, and one art form of freedom of expression is music. We’re coming out there as artists, young and old, to represent that part of the arts,” he said. Admiral added, “We promise to blaze the fire. I think that’s what people want.”
The duo also shared advice for young artists on sustaining a long-term career. Jah Seed emphasized the importance of entertaining audiences. “The common denominator is entertaining people. Whether it’s amapiano or reggae, it’s entertaining people through sound. If they love what they do, it’s only a matter of time before the music speaks for them,” he said. Admiral encouraged performing in any setting to build a following. “Find a place to perform. It doesn’t matter how small the crowd is. You need to get some people behind you who like to hear what you’re doing, and they’ll come back. That can take you very far.”
Other acts scheduled for the festival include Pabi Cooper, Mthandeni, Toss, Kid Fonque, DJ Cndo, and Que DJ. The Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival promises a celebration of music, freedom, and culture, with Jah Seed and Admiral at the forefront.
