SA jazz icon Abdullah Ibrahim announces Cape Town and Pretoria shows

The concerts form part of Ibrahim’s world tour, visiting cities and cultures that in their time were pivotal in his exiled life. It follows the release of his 15-track album titled 3 on 26 January. The project is a recording of two sets from London’s Barbican Hall, with Cleave Guyton Jr (on flute and piccolo) and Noah Jackson (on bass and cello) featured with Ibrahim.

“To be launching my M7 Foundation in Johannesburg, playing concerts in Pretoria’s new state-of-the-art arena and uniquely returning to performing inside City Hall – an illustrious venue I first played at aged 16 for a segregated audience – is something that at one time was unimaginable. I am honoured and thrilled to have the opportunity,” Ibrahim said.

Over the course of his career, Ibrahim has performed with some of the greatest names to ever emerge from South Africa’s legendary jazz scene including Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Jonas Gwangwa and Kippie Moeketsi.

“As I embrace my 90th year, I am delighted to be undertaking these concerts. For me, they are a deeply personal dream, envisaged first many years ago. Perhaps when as a free South African I bought land, or perhaps so many years before that when I was forced to exile? But certainly, I was thrown into sharp relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, when I wondered if, or when, I would see home again.”

Born Adolph Johannes Brand in 1934, Abdullah Ibrahim is a leading South African jazz pianist and composer who first rose to prominence using the name Dollar Brand. Ibrahim has performed internationally, mainly in Europe, and with occasional shows in North America.

Tickets to both concerts are available here.