Thandiswa Mazwai to Launch Sankofa Heritage Festival Celebrating African Music and Culture
Renowned South African musician Thandiswa Mazwai is set to launch the Sankofa Heritage Festival on 28 February at Carnival City. The festival will celebrate African heritage through music, marking Mazwai’s 50th birthday and 30 years in the music industry. It is designed to become an annual cultural gathering, highlighting the richness and diversity of African musical traditions.
Mazwai is more than a musician; she uses her art to promote ethnic pride, blending traditional instruments and sounds with contemporary music. For decades, she has shaped South Africa’s sonic landscape, turning music into a vessel for truth, healing, and cultural storytelling. From her groundbreaking work with Bongo Maffin to her acclaimed solo career, Mazwai has consistently combined tradition with innovation, creating a legacy of courage, artistry, and excellence.
The festival will feature headline performances by Mazwai herself, alongside respected artists including South African singer Msaki and Grammy-nominated Ugandan musician Somi. Mazwai expressed excitement about the lineup, noting her personal and creative connections with both artists. “They have been very dear sisters to me for many years, and we have been appearing at each other’s events all over the world. Somi centres archives in her work, and we collaborated on her album dedicated to Miriam Makeba. Msaki is more than a musician — she is a cultural worker who has helped launch the careers of many young artists,” Mazwai said.
Sankofa Heritage Festival will also provide a platform for emerging traditional musicians through an opening act competition. The competition is currently open and will close on 31 January, with winners announced on 11 January. This initiative aims to uplift new talent rooted in African musical forms and support the next generation of cultural leaders.
At its core, the festival champions African sounds, heritage, and emerging artistry, reinforcing Mazwai’s commitment to music as a tool for cultural preservation and social impact. Through Sankofa Heritage Festival, she continues to demonstrate that music can be both revolutionary and healing, creating spaces where tradition, innovation, and community converge.
