uManyano Lwe Jazz: Honoring Sobukwe with Sound, Soul, and Solidarity

uManyano lwe Jazz returns with an invitation to immerse in music, memory, and meaning. This year, the boutique festival shines a light on the centenary of Robert Sobukwe—a figure whose sacrifice and vision for liberation remain foundational yet overlooked. Over two carefully curated days, uManyano offers a space to celebrate his legacy and the freedom it helped make possible, blending soulful sounds with the ethos of Pan-Africanism.

Sobukwe’s influence, though monumental, is too often erased from public memory. “He’s the only political prisoner to have had a law named after him. How influential must he have been to be silenced so thoroughly? There’s no museum, no archive of his voice—future generations may never get to know him if we do not insist on preserving his memory.” This festival insists on complicating the concept of remembrance by offering a space to honor Sobukwe’s liberation ethos not only through sober reflection but also through collective joy. “We often conflate commemoration with sadness or mourning, but celebrating their lives and dreams is also a way of remembering. What does it mean to gather and be joyful in the name of someone who believed in that ideology?”

The lineup for this year reflects the festival’s commitment to curatorship and inclusivity. Featuring Nduduzo Makhathini, Ndabo Zulu, Mbuso Khoza, Leomile, Herbie Tsoaeli, Siya Makuzeni, Linda Sikhakhane, Mpumi Dhlamini, Sibusile Xaba, Bokang Ramatlapeng, the Sun Xa Experiment, and Kujenga, alongside DJs Nqalastyle, Wenawedwa, Lavas, and Soul Br_th_r, the performances span a spectrum of musical traditions and styles. “Our best export is jazz music, so why not make the most of it? The people who have graced the Manyano stage believe in what we are trying to achieve and give of themselves so generously to materialize this vision.”

uManyano’s curatorship goes beyond booking recognizable names. It insists on creating space for the ecosystem of jazz and its many offshoots to thrive. “The jazz community is so diverse. We need to insist on not repeating the same cycle of musicians all the time.” By including emerging acts like Kujenga or Bokang Ramatlapeng, the festival takes risks that enrich the audience’s experience. “Some bookings might not make sense on paper, but it’s always worth the risk.”

This intentionality extends to challenging how jazz is consumed. Johannesburg, in particular, struggles with what event organiser, Zukiswa White, describes as a poor listening culture. “If it’s not in a theatre setting, people often treat jazz as background music, having loud conversations instead of engaging with the sound.” uManyano offers an alternative – encouraging audiences to immerse themselves fully in the experience. “There’s a difference between dancing or singing along, which are forms of engagement, and being disruptive. The aim of uManyano is to build a community that values and nurtures this listening culture we’re creating.”

Inclusivity is central to uManyano’s ethos. By keeping ticket prices accessible despite financial strain, the festival prioritizes the audience’s connection to the music over profitability. “There aren’t enough viable models to ensure audiences can access diverse acts. The scale and price we operate at aren’t sustainable for us, but we’re responding to a real challenge which is keeping the music accessible.” This commitment is also about ensuring dignity for the artists. “Because of people like Sobukwe, artists are not confined to make music solely about our plight. They deserve spaces where they can create freely and be valued fully.”

Growth for uManyano doesn’t mean abandoning its boutique identity but instead deepening its impact. “We’ve gotten more no’s than yes’s, but each curation taps into an ecosystem where music finds expression, not repetition.” What began with an audience of 40 people at its first edition has steadily built a loyal following. “People come for the experience, and then they bug us for the next edition.”

This year’s celebration of Sobukwe encapsulates the festival’s mission to create space for black pride, joy, and possibility. “Where black joy can be loud and proud, in a boutique setting that feels like home, and bask in what it means to be alive and free.” The commemoration is in the music, even when it isn’t literal, and the audience is encouraged to bring “an open heart, good energy, and generosity to the space.”

uManyano is more than just a festival. It’s a movement that champions inclusivity, pushes boundaries in curatorship, and reimagines the possibilities of music as a space for memory, freedom, and joy. This is where sound meets soul and history meets the present—a gathering that continues to grow in vision, impact, and meaning.

Get your tickets here and join in on the festivities of uManyano lwe Jazz on the 7 & 8 December 2024.