Ngeke Festival launches at Constitutional Hill with music-led call for accountability

The festival brought together musicians, creatives, campaigners and members of the public. According to JM International’s programme and marketing director, Matt Clark, the intention behind the event was to use culture to recognise and support those working against corruption. He said ongoing corruption made it necessary to continue creating platforms that amplified such efforts.

Artist and performer MC Lerai, who described herself as part of a new generation of leaders, addressed the role of young people. Her message focused on collective responsibility, highlighting shared challenges such as limited access to funding, industry knowledge and markets. She emphasised the importance of unity and participation in building alternative futures for South Africa’s creative and social landscapes.

One of the key moments of the programme was the South African launch of Fair Play, an initiative aimed at supporting artists who engage with social justice themes in their work. Two acts, Onset Music Group and Xtreem Makhayeni, each received R10 000 in recognition of their contributions. Onset Music Group presented a minimalist a cappella set, while Makhayeni delivered a performance of his conscious rap track, ‘Ngeke’.

Reflecting on his approach, Makhayeni said his work consistently returns to socially conscious themes. “Writing has always come naturally to me. Even when I experiment with different sounds, I come back to conscious music because it is who I am. I want people to leave feeling inspired,” he said.

Headlining the event, BCUC delivered an energetic performance that blended indigenous rhythms with funk and ancestral elements, drawing a strong response from the audience. The evening concluded with a set by Zoë Modiga, who incorporated elements of her KwaZulu-Natal heritage into a reflective and restrained closing performance.

Speaking on behalf of Fair Play, a representative known as Tash outlined the initiative’s broader objectives. She said it seeks to encourage artists to speak out against corruption while strengthening their professional capacity. “There is significant talent across the continent, but access to resources remains limited. By equipping young musicians with the right tools, we can support the creative sector and expand opportunities for sustainable income,” she said.

The festival was funded by the European Union and supported by partners including JM International, Fair Play, Transparency International, the International Anti-Corruption Conference, Corruption Watch, Y20 South Africa 2025 and the Special Investigating Unit.

Organisers indicated that future programmes may focus on building artists’ business skills, enabling them to market their work more effectively and participate more fully in the creative economy. They also expressed an interest in expanding the initiative to address other social challenges linked to systemic corruption, including gender-based violence, crime and educational access.