The music scene is currently abuzz with excitement as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) has announced that the legendary Abdullah Ibrahim will grace the stage later this month on the 27th and 28th of March, as part of this highly anticipated event.
This presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many, offering a rare chance for his audience to experience one of the great living architects of modern jazz—an artist whose music has transcended continents while remaining deeply connected to the rhythms and melodies of his homeland.
In 1994, the first democratically elected President of the Republic of South Africa and freedom fighter, Rholihlahla Nelson Mandela, acknowledged Ibrahim’s extraordinary talent, famously stating, “Bach? Beethoven? We’ve got better.” Ibrahim also delivered a remarkable performance at this significant ceremony.
Recognised globally as one of the greatest pianists and composers, Ibrahim was born in 1934 in District Six, Cape Town. His music embodies the diverse musical influences of his childhood spent in the multicultural port areas of the Cape.
He is regarded as one of South Africa’s most outstanding talents, with a career that has spanned over seven decades and crossed multiple continents. A trailblazer of bebop, infused with a unique Cape Town sensibility, he established the Dollar Band Trio in 1958 and co-founded The Jazz Epistles alongside the late Hugh Masekela (Bra Hugh), Kippie Moeketsi, Jonas Gwangwa, Johnny Gertze, and Makaya Ntshoko.
Ibrahim has traveled extensively around the globe and even went into exile in the late 1950s, returning to South Africa in 1990 following Nelson Mandela’s release from prison.
This year’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) marks its 23rd edition and is anticipated to be an extraordinary event, featuring an exciting lineup that includes the legendary Abdullah Ibrahim, who is set to captivate his audience as he returns to the stage in Cape Town.
At this grand event, Ibrahim will be accompanied by Grammy-winning artist Jacob Collier, the iconic Yellowjackets, and UK saxophonist Jasmine Myra.
