iMbizo yamaKhono Gathering of the Arts (2020 – Current) SERIES

Season 1: Attunement (2020)

gathering of the beautiful South African musical family in all their expressions. Music is one thing, but it is the stories that attune our ears, hearts and minds to the influence music has in our lives.

8 Episodes 5 minutes each: E01: The art of 1-4-5 with Lwanda Gogwana journey’s into the elegant and classy music of marabi and the typical south African heritage of the 1-4-5 progression. E02: Sonic Nuances with Siya Makuzeni is a wildly eclectic and versatile ride into the presentation of the voice as an instrument both original and unique. E03: Power of the Song with Masauko Chipembere bring songs writing ideas to the future generations. E04: 6/8 rhythm with Eugene Skeef is an inspiration for the rhythmic connections of Africa. E05: Bafo Mentor with Madala Kunene provides insight to the transformative rhythmic 2-chord Zulu blues of Madalaline music. E06: Freedom with Sifiso Ntuli is an important history of revolution through music in Tanzania, Canada and New York. E07: You-ology with Zaide Harneker is an inspiration for every creatives journey into the heart of self-knowledge. E08: Music Rights with Internet Tony disentangles the complex music rights landscape.

Season 2: Assimilation (2021)

expands to include Live Music Performances in a Workshop setting. In partnership with AMPD studios, Season Two, elevates learning in new directions of self-expression and sustainable practices through brilliant protagonists of diverse music genres and practices. 8 Episodes 10 minutes each: E01: Jazzoetry is my life with Lefifi Tladi rediscovers the authentic, sovereign and unifying African cultural heritage of Black Consciousness. E02: Order creates Comfort with Tu Nokwe turns the light on for African creative and emotional development. E03: On the Shoulders of Giants with Prince Lengoasa shares the music and approaches of the greats of SA jazz. E04: Vernacularism with Yonela Mnana presents a uniquely south African approach to music creation. E05: Re-invention with Octavia Rachabane shows that a career in music is what you make of it. E06: Spirit of Play with Mark Fransman bares the process of a talented African musician in his studio of musical dreams. E07: Magic & Mystery of Sound with Steve Tsakiris is a sound journey into the universal soul and mind of world music. E08: Making SA music international with Dan Chiorboli showcases the musical mission of taking the soul of African music to the world.

Season 3: Afrika Year (2022)

broadens the musical learning deeper into the reaches of indigenous and Pan African arts and culture. Titled Afrika Year as a celebration of the year 2022, superstar musicians showcase the power of popular and traditional cultures including sangoma, jazz, gospel, maskandi and reggae. 5 Episodes 12 minutes each E01: Drumming in Yin and Yang with Anikki Maswanganye is a powerful woman’s perspective in navigating the industry through body mind and soul. E02: Power to the Woman with Bonny Zulu awakens the inner musical voice through storytelling. E03: Vumani Bo! Align Yourselves! with Geoff Tracey merges music expression with the medical and spiritual values of indigenous sangoma culture. E04: Maskandi: preserve and innovate with Qadasi & Maqhinga shares the fusion of indigenous knowledge and folk music that has taken the world by storm. E05: Instrument of the people with Tidal Waves is a musical rock of the original music that has inspired an original people.

Season 4: uBuntu (2025)

profiles five unique wisdom keepers of South African musical culture and heritage in a hybrid documentary style with live recordings and interviews mixed with cut-aways, archives and personal memoires in a dynamic and engaging resource. (5 Episodes 15 minutes). E01 Afrikan Safari follows the journey of Morri Natti a Maasai boy who developed the cross-cultural style, “mashariki muziki”, which combines influences from all over Africa and the world. E02 Tososeletso / Enlightenment explores 4 ancient musical instruments serotorotoro, mbira, uhadi, ixharra with multi-instrumentalist Mosoeu Ketlele. E03 Marabi Melodies is lead by Moss Mogale and CAFCA (Committed Artists for Cultural Advancement) to preserve a living archive of two great jazz stories of the North - Marabi and Malombo. E04 Music Provolution Is the story of Guillaume Rossouw aka Gill Gap, the godfather of punk and now the founder of provolution. E05 Masakhane profiles the longevity of Retsi Pule to infuses and inculcates in the minds of the youth a different approach to singing jazz.

Jazz Against Apartheid (2022 – Current) DEVELOPMENT

30 years after the fall of apartheid, the original freedom fighters have gathered to remember the untold story of jazz against apartheid, not only in exile but also at home in the so called townships. The source of jazz is African and the pathway to a freedom of creative expression is on the breath of the elders, those who went before us. A group of friends from three continents gathered at the Steve Biko Centre to share their inspiring story of the jazz freedom fighters both in exile and at home and together pen this restorative cultural memory epic.

Since 1986 JAA has hosted over 100 concerts in Europe and the USA. JAA has a long tradition of funding providers who fought together with the cultural activists abroad to ensure that the apartheid system ends. It was only in 2021 that the contribution of his artistic-political work in exile was recognized officially through the OR Tambo Presidential award to his co-founder Jürgen Leinhos. The repatriation of heritage to the Eastern Cape, Duncan Village, Dyani's birthplace and to the Steve Biko Centre begins a process of Imvuselelo - revival.

URBAN ZULU The Busi Mhlongo Story (2023 – Current) PRE-PRODUCTION

Urban Zulu is an explosive and immersive biographical documentary about the Queen of Modern Zulu music - Mam Busi Mhlongo. In her 45-year artistic career she performs as vocalist and actress emerging from rural KZN to top the World music charts in 1999.

Her music fuses Maskandi Zulu music with Afro Rock, Gospel and Jazz in a unique Urban Zulu aesthetic. Yet more than a music documentary, Urban Zulu deepens the audience’s connection to Zulu Cosmology.