CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL HAS A BLEND OF WORLD’S BEST ARTISTS
The Mother City is gearing up for Africa’s Grandest Gathering – the Cape Town International Jazz Festival – with two days of the world’s best musicians at the CTICC.
The 2025 Cape Town International Jazz Festival, set for 25 – 26 April, promises a vibrant celebration of global jazz, soul, and Afro-fusion.
With over 30 artists performing across multiple stages, the 22nd edition of the festival is throwing out a bold line up of genre-blending artists.
This year’s lineup features an exclusive collaboration between Grammy-winning DJ Black Coffee and jazz pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, blending electronic beats with soulful improvisation.
American R&B sensation Ari Lennox will grace the stage with her rich vocals and emotive storytelling.
Returning to the festival is genre-blending artist Masego, known for his unique “TrapHouseJazz” style that fuses jazz, R&B, and Afrobeat.
South African music icon Thandiswa Mazwai will deliver a performance that intertwines her IsiXhosa heritage with jazz and Afro-futurism. iconic South African kwaito group TKZee will be making a return to the festival for the first time since 2010.
The festival also welcomes the return of Afro-soul queen Lira, marking her comeback after a significant health setback.
International acts include British acid jazz pioneers Incognito and Indian ensemble Bombay Lights, who blend Indian classical music with jazz and African grooves.
HOMEGROWN TALENT
Since its inception in 2000, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival has grown into one of the continent’s premier music events but beyond global acclaim, it has remained a vital platform for homegrown talent.
Year after year, the festival opens the stage to Cape Town’s rich pool of musicians, offering them a spotlight to share their sound with the world.
This year, the Kyle Shepherd Trio brings a fresh take on Cape jazz, blending tradition with bold and modern innovation.
Bassist Benjamin Jephta teams up with Kujenga to deliver a powerful fusion of African rhythms, contemporary jazz, and hip-hop — a reflection of Cape Town’s ever-evolving soundscape.
Also gracing the stage is a powerhouse collective of the city’s finest: saxophonist Don Vino Prins, guitarist Cameron Ward and bassist Jonathan Rubain.
Each artist brings their own story, rooted in Cape Town’s communities, to form an All-Star Group that promises an unforgettable performance.
FREE JAZZ CONCERT
A precursor to the main festival, the CTIJF Free Concert is taking place on 24 April 2025.
Annually, the concert electrifies the CBD with performances from a dynamic mix of international icons and local talent at the second oldest public space in Cape Town – Greenmarket Square.
The concert is held, in association with the City of Cape Town, to provide a musical experience with big name artists for those who are not able to get tickets for the main festival.
Headliners include Incognito, TKZee, genre-blending group The Ploemies, rising star Hannah Ray, powerhouse vocalists Andrea Fortuin and Fancy Galada, as well as DJ Eazy, who will keep the energy flowing between sets.
This free-to-attend open-air concert has over the years become a popular feature of Cape Town’s annual events calendar and serves as a precursor to the main festival.
The concert kicks off at 16:30 and runs until 22:00.
Tickets for the main concert are available through Ticketmaster.
