Sabu Jiyana

Siyabulela is a South African multi-instrumentalist, musical practitioner and co-founder of Abavuki band. He is also a member of Addis Ababa Ensemble from KwaLanga Township in Cape Town.

Siyabulela has performed in many countries for more than a decade. After years of travelling around the world with his group, Sabu decided to embark on a solo career. His music is a fusion of indigenous African and western instruments. He draws his influence from artists such as Dizu Plaaitjies, Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, Salief Keita and others. He has released some of the following albums 'Discography', 'Decade', 'Africa Got Soul' and others.

Below are some of his notable performances and achievements:
• 2003 and 2004: Played at the World’s Children’s Prize Award ceremony for the Queen of Sweden
• 2005: Played at the market theatre for the announcement of Nelson Mandela’s nomination for the World Children’s Prize
• 2008: Won the Artscape Indigenous Arts Competition which he co-directed (Abavuki)
• 2009: Recorded an album for the 50th Anniversary of Motown Records (Abavuki)
• 2010: Performed for 2 months on the Viking Lines ferry between Finland and Sweden. (Abavuki)
• 2012: Played in Oman, invited by the Sultan - with Dizu Plaatjies and his Ibuyambo Ensemble
• 2012: Invited to play and do master classes in Mexico at the Chiapas University, and played at the Chiapa Marimba Festival
• 2014: Created two ringtones for Nokia as part of the Cape Town Design capital campaign
• 2014: Selected for WOMEX 2014 (Abavuki)
• 2014: Played at the Marimba festival in Chiapas
• 2015: Recorded for a Fiat Motor commercial
• 2015: Performed at the World Music and Food Festival in Bangkok ,
• 2015: Performed at the following festivals in Europe: Ethnoport(Poland), Respekt fest (Czech republic), Oeral fest (Holland), Hout fest (Holland), Fusion fest (Germany), Afrika fest (Holland), Somer van Antwerpen fest (Belgium), Colours of Ostrava (Czech republic), Festival der Kulturen (Germany), Okarina fest (Slovenia), Folkveprazdniny (Czech republic), Bardentreffen (Germany). (Abavuki)
• 2016: Co-wrote with Jen Johns for her album. Won Best Musical Director at the Zabalaza Festival
• Performed at the Rainforest World Music Festival in Malaysia (Abavuki & Kelele)

Apart from music, he has done post-graduate studies in music performance.