Dr Nduduzo Makhathini and Thandi Ntuli to Present An Ongoing Rehearsal at Baxter Theatre
On November 10, 2025, the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town will host a distinctive musical event led by scholar, improviser, and artistic researcher Dr Nduduzo Makhathini. His project, An Ongoing Rehearsal, will unfold in collaboration with pianist, singer, and composer Thandi Ntuli. The performance promises to be more than a concert, serving as a deep exploration of sound, storytelling, and the human experience.
Throughout 2025, Makhathini has devoted his focus to the theme of An Ongoing Rehearsal. The concept functions as both a collaborative artistic platform and an extension of his academic research following his PhD. The initiative extends beyond music, encompassing a forthcoming book titled An Ongoing Rehearsal in Ntu Sonicities, a festival, and a clothing line under the same name. These creative branches reflect his dedication to merging scholarship and artistry while documenting the evolving process of creation.
The upcoming Baxter Theatre performance marks the fifth movement in this ongoing project. It will feature a duet between Makhathini and Ntuli, bringing together their unique songbooks and personal stories. Previous iterations of the project have included acclaimed artists such as bassist Herbie Tsoaeli, singer and cultural activist Mbuso Khoza, singer-songwriter Muneyi, and trumpeter Ndabo Zulu with the Soweto Chorus. Each collaboration has contributed new layers of depth to Makhathini’s vision.
In describing his work, Makhathini challenges the conventional idea of rehearsal as preparation for perfection. He explains, “An Ongoing Rehearsal goes against the idea of a rehearsal in the traditional sense which seeks perfection. These rehearsals are recurring moments of knowing it is impossible but doing it anyway. A rehearsal as a space of emptying instead of acquiring.”
This philosophy redefines performance as an act of reflection and openness rather than finality. Makhathini emphasizes that the project does not aim to create new compositions but instead revisits existing songs and stories. “There’s no new music written for an Ongoing Rehearsal but it really celebrates existing songs, musics and existing stories,” he says.
Through this approach, audiences are invited to reconnect with familiar sounds and traditions while experiencing them through renewed interpretation. Ntuli’s collaboration adds another layer of artistry to the event, blending her refined musical sensibility with Makhathini’s improvisational depth.
An Ongoing Rehearsal at the Baxter Theatre is expected to deliver an evening of rhythm, introspection, and collective memory. It stands as both a celebration of African sonic heritage and a meditation on the creative process itself. For attendees, it will be an opportunity to witness two of South Africa’s most thoughtful musicians in a dialogue that transcends performance, revealing music as a living, breathing continuum.
