Joy of Jazz pays tribute to SA industry players

The 2017 BET Top 100 Most Influential Women Award winner, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, received the Humanitarian Award to add to her list of impressive accolades. Visual artist Sam Nhlengethwa was recognised for his ground-breaking style and striking imagery, while Market Theatre arts director James Ngcobo was honoured for the work he has done to uplift the standard of local theatre and the arts in South Africa.

The honourees are among 11 musicians, innovative thinkers and business leaders recognised for their impact to the arts.

“This year we once again celebrate individuals who have left an indelible mark on the industry and have made a difference to the arts,” Joy of Jazz festival producer Mantwa Chinoamadi said.

The awards ceremony was part of the build-up to the 2019 edition of the Joy of Jazz festival, which takes place at the convention centre between 26 and 28 September. The festival will run under the theme, Jazz in 19Afrika.

The festival will kick off with the Battle of the Big Bands on the Dinaledi Stage with the Standard Bank Young Artist All Star Jazz Band featuring Sibongile Khumalo, Gloria Bosman, Bokani Dyer, Kesivan Naidoo and Concord Nkabinde, among others. The stage will then host Marcus Wyatt's ZAR Jazz Orchestra and nine-time American Grammy winner Wynton Marsalis and his 15-piece Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

The remaining days of the festival will feature big names such as Manu Katche (France), Don Laka (South Africa), Etuk Ubong (Nigeria), Roberto Fonseca (Cuba), Sipho 'Hotstix' Mabuse, Ladysmith Black Mambazo (South Africa), Moreira Chonguica (Mozambique), Ken Peplowski (US) and Kyekyeku (Ghana).

"My first time in South Africa I was at Joy of Jazz as a listener and jazz lover who came to watch and be part of the festival, and I said to myself, 'Someday I will be on that stage' and it's a reality now," Etuk Ubong told Music In Africa in a recent interview. "Also the fact that one of the greatest musicians I have always idolised, Wynton Marsalis, will be on the line-up as well. I'm happy to share Earth Music [self-coined musical style] with my African brothers and sisters."

Joy of Jazz award winners:

• Yvonne Chaka Chaka (Humanitarian Award)
• Mike and Dianne Rossi (Jazz Education)
• James Ngcobo (Uplifting the Standard of Local Jazz)
• Michelle Constant (Business Arts)
• Simnikiwe Sondlo (Persevering a Jazz Venue of All Times)
• Sam Nhlengethwa (Visual Arts)
• Greg Maloka (Media and Radio Contribution)
• Sphiwe Mhlambi (Photography)
• Mncedi Zulu (Recognition of a Long-standing Appreciation of Jazz)
• Sam Mhangwani (Music Festival Production and Sustainability)

Tickets to Joy of Jazz 2019 are available here.