Latest news with #CapeTownJazzFestival
The South African
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Festival season, what is the hottest ticket in town?
Festival season is upon us, and there is a myriad of worthwhile events to go to. A number of our best festivals will, as they tend to have some international performances for us to revel in. But what is the hottest ticket in town so far? Last week, Eswatini was ablaze with the MTN Bushfire festival taking place. Niche performers are combined with more commercial acts to create an atmosphere that is hard to convey unless you have been there. The Cape Town Jazz Festival also made its long-awaited return this year. Acts like Masego returned to a South African stage alongside American vocalist Ari Lennox and UK acid jazz frontiersmen Incognito. It was a memorable way to kick off the festival season. There still, however, remain a few worthy festivals and concerts that are yet to take place. Concerts are just as important during festival season. Kenny G is quite the polarising figure. Lovers of the avant-garde would consider this soft serve music, but the man has carved out a career spanning more than five decades. Starting professionally at the tender age of 17 in 1973 as a sideman for Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra , he has since amassed hits like Forever In Love, Songbird and Going Home. He is still very much regarded as a high-level performer. Kenny G will be live in concert at the Durban ICC on October 1, 2025, the Grand Arena and the Grand West, in Cape Town on October 2, 2025, as well as The SunBet Arena, Times Square, Pretoria, on October 4, 2025. The Astroworld tragedy that happened on 5 November 2021, in Houston, might still be on the back of your mind. As murky as that might have been, Travis Scott concerts have grown in popularity and notoriety. From his raucous antics on stage and intense hold over audiences, this might be the one ticket that beats them all. Scott has been here before, back when Joburg had a world-class venue for such events, he has pyrotechnics shoot out above the crowd. He did away with the barriers separating the Golden Circle from general access and encouraged fans to mosh. This was all while dispensing timid tracks like Goosebumps. His second coming might be better because of the music he will be armed with. Can you imagine what might happen as soon as Sicko Mode rings out? What about Fein? Fans of his will be delighted, and purists who enjoy the energy of hip hop might also find some comfort in his arrival. This could be the highlight of festival season. He will be performing in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at FNB Stadium as part of his Circus Maximus Tour . Rocking The Daisies announced that singer and songwriter Summer Walker will be their tent pole performer this year. Daisies has always aimed at more new age soul and R&B acts, and Walker might be among the best they have ever presented. Walker ascended to fame from Atlanta, Georgia, with her 2018 mixtape Last Day of Summer . This housed hits like Girls Need Love , a song so popular it received a Drake remix. which later got a remix with Drake. Her first offering, Over It (2019), shattered streaming milestones for female R&B artists. Her sophomore album, Still Over It (2021), peaked at number 1 on the Billboard 200. The festival will take place from October 2 to 5, 2025, at Cloof Wine Estate in Cape Town, with more acts to be announced. Even though this festival has shortened its duration, its line-up remains one of the more formidable ones this year. The unexpected change in the event's running order has not affected ticket holders. You can Paint The Town Red with Doja Cat if that's your thing. Central Cee will be doing up the road with UK grime raps. It is refreshing to have an artist from this fraternity of hip hop, as the UK has a plethora of intriguing artists, and hopefully, more of them will make their way down south. Leon Thomas and the music he created on his album, Mutt. There isn't much more to say about that. If you have experienced his debut project, then you will have an understanding of just how potent it is. Another of the more worthwhile artists on this list. A few festivals have yet to announce which exotic talents they might host. DStv Delicious Food and Music Festival was enjoyable last year with Busta Rhymes, Janet Jackson, and Jason Derulo as the headliners. Back To The City Hip Hop Festival always ensures hip-hop heads are catered for. Last year, they had New York-based rapper Benny The Butcher on their main stage, and his music had the crowd pulsating. Hopefully, more artists will be added to some of these rosters as festival season progresses. There is quite a fair amount to choose from. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Rashid Lombard: A cultural icon of South Africa
Liya Williams, granddaughter of jazz impresario and well-known photographer Rashid Lombard, rests her head on his body before his burial according to Muslim rites. Image: Ian Landsberg / Independent Media Family, friends, musicians, and political figures gathered at the Cape Town home of the late jazz organiser, photographer, and activist Rashid Lombard on Thursday to celebrate his remarkable life and enduring legacy. The 74-year-old, whose name became synonymous with South African jazz and cultural resistance, passed away on June 4. His funeral drew mourners from across the country and beyond, including celebrated musicians, community leaders, fellow activists, and ordinary Capetonians who had been touched by his work. Attendees shared stories, music, and laughter in tribute to a man many described as a visionary, a comrade, and a cultural custodian. Shadley Lombard, Lombard's son, said the outpouring of love and support was overwhelming but deeply comforting. 'He was more of a father and mentor to other people than to his children,' Shadley said. 'And we're okay with that, because what he did inspired people, motivated young people. That was his calling, and we fully understand that. When you look at the turnout and the support from across the world, even from the president of South Africa, it speaks volumes.' President Cyril Ramaphosa described Lombard as 'a cultural icon' who helped position South Africa on the global cultural stage. 'Rashid Lombard's fearless depiction of apartheid's endemic inhumanity and violence, and his compassionate focus on the lives of oppressed communities, is a powerful record of our struggle for basic human rights,' said the president in a statement. 'His establishment of the Cape Town Jazz Festival bolstered South Africa's integration into global culture. He did all this with passion and humility that endeared him to everyone he touched.' Father Michael Weeder, a long-time friend, spoke warmly of Lombard's authenticity and passion. 'There was nothing superficial about the way he was present, in person or online,' he said. 'Over time, he became a friend. We had comrades in common. And when we say 'comrade', we don't mean it in the casual way people do today. Back then, a comrade was someone you trusted with your life. We trusted Rashid.' Weeder also recalled Lombard's artistic soul and love of jazz. 'With time, he brought his love for the arts to fruition, bringing jazz to stages across Cape Town, especially the Cape Town International Jazz Festival,' he said. 'He came from a small town. It wasn't about connections, it was about conviction, about communicating from the heart. That's what made him so special.' Among those who benefitted directly from Lombard's vision was entertainer Alistair Izobell, who described the late cultural organiser as one of the most inspiring people he'd ever met. 'His message to us was always the same: dream. Because those dreams can move you beyond your limitations,' said Izobell. 'As I stand and look at Table Mountain today, I know some of the soil has passed. But the gift of his work remains, and I will celebrate that for the rest of my life.' Mujahid George, actor and broadcaster, said he owed his introduction to the world of jazz to Lombard. 'He's the one who introduced me to a legend like George Benson, when he brought him to the Cape Town Jazz Festival,' said George. 'He was a very special person to me, and I wouldn't have missed his farewell for anything. He deserved every ounce of the love we saw today.' Lombard was born in North End, Gqeberha, in 1951 and moved to Cape Town as a young boy. Trained as an architectural draughtsman, he turned to photography in the 1970s, becoming one of South Africa's most respected news and documentary photographers. He documented key moments in the anti-apartheid struggle before turning his attention to cultural activism, particularly jazz. In the early 2000s, he founded the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, an event that would go on to become one of the largest and most respected music gatherings in the southern hemisphere. Through it, he not only brought global stars to local stages but also championed South African musicians and uplifted communities through developmental programmes. Faiez Jacobs, former ANC MP, reflected on Lombard's dual commitment to art and politics. 'He was one of us — an activist, a cultural warrior, and a storyteller,' said Jacobs. 'He documented our Struggle, preserved our joy, and gave future generations access to their heritage. Rashid archived more than 500,000 photographs of our people and donated them to the University of the Western Cape. That's an extraordinary legacy.' Even in his final years, Lombard remained a beloved figure across generational and cultural lines. His ability to connect with people, both on and off stage, left a lasting impression on those who crossed his path. 'Rashid was a man of the people, in every sense of the word,' said Father Weeder. 'I recently saw a video of him dancing, improvising with two women, full of joy. That spontaneity, that love for people in all our diversity, that was at the heart of his life. He was, in his way, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, a friend to all. A true child of God.'
Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Daily Maverick
Rashid Lombard — legendary photographer and jazz pioneer who forged greatness in the struggle
Rashid Lombard, who died at his Cape Town home this week and was buried according to Muslim rites on Thursday, was a legend as a photographer and pioneer of the Cape Town Jazz Festival. Dennis Cruywagen remembers him. Thirty-six years ago, in August 1989, in Gugulethu township, near Cape Town, I watched the highest-ranking Anglican clergyman in South Africa deliberately being teargassed as he resolutely tried to protect young, defenceless pupils from the fury of the riot police. That priest was the leader of the Anglican Church in southern Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. On that day, he led at least 500 pupils who had resolved to show their support for the national defiance campaign launched by the mass democratic movement. The arrival of police derailed their plans. They fled into Holy Cross Catholic Church. When the Arch, as Tutu preferred to be called, arrived, he negotiated what he thought was a safe passage for the young people with the men in camouflage uniforms. The rector of the University of the Western Cape, Professor Jakes Gerwel, was with him. I was there as a reporter for the Cape Argus newspaper. Also, there was the slim, renowned and fearless photographer Rashid Lombard. As usual his black hair was tied in a ponytail. A black beret sat on his head. Black as his hair was his moustache. We watched teargas being fired at the Arch, Professor Gerwel and the teenagers. Young people scattered. On that winter's day in Gugulethu, while many were coughing and trying to wipe away tears, which are wont to flow in a teargas attack, Rashid stood firm. He calmly raised his camera and started taking photographs that would become world famous. He captured on film images of the Arch walking through a cloud of teargas. They were stunning images. He offered his pictures to my newspaper. They were declined because of the State of Emergency press restrictions. The Cape Times used them the next morning. Gutsy deputy editor Deon du Plessis was infuriated that our newspaper had turned down Rashid's pictures. Rashid allowed the paper to use them. They were subsequently splashed across the front page. His evocative pictures moved Cape Town's English-language newspapers to disregard press restrictions. I recalled this event on Wednesday when I was informed that Rashid had passed away at the age of 74. And as the recollections came gushing, I recalled his gentle, kind eyes, visionary and pioneering spirit, and his great love for his wife, Colleen, their children and grandchildren. Colleen, whom he married in 1970, was held as a detainee from 14 August 1987 until 29 January 1988. Not by choice, he became a single parent of their three children, Yana, Chevan and Shadley, for a while, as his ANC courier wife was held incommunicado. I remembered how, between 1985 and 1990, we were part of a group of news people who were reporting on the struggle. It was a job that consumed our lives and forged strong bonds. In this group were news legends such as Jimi Matthews, Adil Bradlow, Benni Gool, Ayesha Ismail, Sahm Venter, Willie de Klerk, Obed Zilwa, Eric Miller, Guy Tillim, Mike Hutchings, Azziz Tassiem, John Rubython and many others. It takes the death of a former colleague to bring back their names and the times in which we lived and reported on. To me there was a common belief that held us together: we wanted to tell the story of the struggle, the bravery of people – many of them so very young – yet not enough to stop state-sanctioned violence gleefully delivered by cruel men. We were the witnesses; Rashid's camera faithfully recording this infamous history. A lover of jazz who went on to pioneer the Cape Town Jazz Festival in post-apartheid South Africa, Rashid and I teamed up for an interview with uMkhonto weSizwe chief of staff Chris Hani. After the unbanning of the ANC, the charismatic leader and other exiles returned home. On his first open visit to Cape Town, a senior ANC member called me. I was informed that Comrade Chris would be meeting senior newspaper executives at the University of the Western Cape. I was not on the guest list. Miffed, I called Buyiswa Jack, a former detainee incarcerated under section 29 of the notorious Internal Security Act, which has mercifully been repealed, to apprise her of the situation. She contacted her brother, Pro Jack, who was assassinated years later, his killers never apprehended. I was sitting in the Argus newsroom when I was called, instructed to bring only Rashid along, and meet Pro in front of the Langa Post Office. The MK legend, Hani, had insisted that Rashid be the photographer, even if he was not an Argus staffer! Such was his reputation. We spent more than an hour interviewing Hani. The next day the Cape Argus had a poster that alerted readers to an exclusive interview with Hani. Rashid's pictures were used. Reminiscing about past stories and scoops, I went to my bookshelf and retrieved a slim publication, To the Moon and Back: A Detention Memoir. Years ago, I bought the book with the purple-blue cover at Clarke's Bookshop, an institution on Cape Town's Long Street. The author is Colleen Lombard, Rashid's widow, and fellow jazz aficionado. She was arrested with her friend and comrade, the late Zurayah Abass, as they tried to smuggle Nicklo Pedro (also late) and Yasmina Pandy across the border. During her detention she came close to taking her own life, while at home Rashid was taking care of their three children. Those were very hard years. The book, which was a project that Rashid strongly believed in and supported, was first published in 2021. Colleen wrote it 10 years after her incarceration and subsequent court appearance as an accused in what became known as the Rainbow Trial, which started in the Supreme Court in February 1989, a year before Nelson Mandela was freed from jail. The Western Cape's last so-called terrorism trial, it spluttered on until March 1991 when all charges were withdrawn against the accused. In 2014, the national government recognised Rashid's enormous contribution to the reopening of the rich well of jazz music in South Africa and awarded him the National Order of Ikhamanga in Silver for his excellent contribution to arts and culture and his dedication to jazz music. That was a richly deserved honour. Rest well, Rashid. You were a legend. You were on first-name terms with great men and women who recognised your greatness, yet you never lost the common touch and your humility. DM
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Ramaphosa mourns passing of photographer Rashid Lombard
Lombard documented pivotal moments in the country struggle for freedom, including the release of late former president Nelson Mandela in 1990. President Cyril Ramaphosa has described renowned South African photographer and jazz promoter Rashid Lombard as a cultural icon who not only documented South Africa's history of struggle for freedom but also made history in his own right. The president expressed his deep sadness at the passing of Lombard, who passed away at the age of 74. Lombard was an esteemed member of the National Order of Ikhamanga (Silver), which he received in 2014 for his excellent contribution to arts and culture and his dedication to promoting jazz music that has put South Africa on the map for many jazz enthusiasts around the world. 'Fearless' Ramaphosa offered his heartfelt condolences to the Lombard family and his wide network of friends, comrades, and creatives, both nationally and internationally. 'Rashid Lombard's fearless depiction of apartheid's endemic inhumanity and violence and his compassionate focus on the lives of oppressed communities and disadvantaged individuals is a powerful record of our struggle for basic human rights and dignity. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa pays tribute to anti-apartheid activist and writer Breyten Breytenbach 'His creative and entrepreneurial ability gave rise to his establishment of the Cape Town Jazz Festival, through which he bolstered South Africa's integration into global culture and linked this prestigious event to the development of historically disadvantaged communities,' Ramaphosa said. 'Diversity and vibrancy' Ramaphosa added that Lombard achieved a remarkable feat with his love for the 'diversity and vibrancy of our nation.' 'He did so with passion and humility that endeared him to everyone with whom he interacted and whose lives he touched. We reflect on his life with gratitude and with liberation and joy he leaves behind as his legacy'. Lombard was born in Port Elizabeth in 1951 and moved to Cape Town in 1962. He documented pivotal moments in the country's struggle for freedom, including the release of the late former president Nelson Mandela in 1990 and the country's first democratic elections in 1994. Career He has been the organiser behind the positioning of South Africa through the arts in the North Sea Jazz Festival, Cape Town, now known as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival), and was the Festival Director of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Originally qualified as an architectural draughtsman, Lombard transitioned into industrial photography, later becoming a renowned news and documentary photographer, as well as a photographic artist. He built on his creative media career by becoming an influential jazz promoter and founder of the then Cape Town edition of the North Sea Jazz Festival. ALSO READ: Radio legend Darren Scott dies at 61 after battling cancer
IOL News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Tributes pour in for acclaimed photographer and jazz visionary, Rashid Lombard
Rashid Lombard, surrounded by posters of musicians, says jazz has kept him sane in terrible places. Picture: BRENTON GEACH Lengendary photographer and jazz visionary, Rashid Lombard has died at the age of 74. Image: BRENTON GEACH TRIBUTES poured in following the death of acclaimed photographer and jazz visionary Rashid Lombard at the age of 74. He died on Wednesday, surrounded by his loved ones. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) was the brainchild of Lombard, who was also a recipient of the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver 'for his excellent contribution to arts and culture and his dedication to promoting jazz music that has put South Africa on the map for many jazz enthusiasts around the world'. He was a freelance photographer and television sound recordist during the height of the anti-apartheid struggle. Lombard's lens captured the unrest and hope of a nation in transition for international media outlets including Agence France-Presse, the BBC, and NBC. Over the course of his career, he documented pivotal moments in South Africa's journey to freedom, including the rise of the democratic movement in the 1980s, the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990, and the country's first democratic elections in 1994. With democracy came the opportunity to fully embrace his other great passion - jazz. He served as station manager at Fine Music Radio and later as programming manager at P4 Smooth Jazz Radio. In 1997, Lombard founded espAfrika, the events management company behind the CTIJF, which he launched in 2000 and directed until his retirement in 2014. Today, the Sekunjalo Group and the Survé Family, as the owners of espAfrika "remain steadfast in their commitment to honouring the CTIJF's vision of bringing together jazz lovers and showcasing the rich tapestry of jazz genres from South Africa and around the world," espAfrika said. After stepping away from the festival, Lombard took over the digitisation of his archives, a task previously managed by his wife Colleen Rayson. He later partnered with the National Archives and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) to make the collection publicly accessible online as a national heritage resource. His daughter will now carry this work forward. President Cyril Ramaphosa said said the country had lost a "cultural icon who not only documented our history of struggle but made history in his own right". 'Rashid Lombard's fearless depiction of apartheid's endemic inhumanity and violence and his compassionate focus on the lives of oppressed communities and disadvantaged individuals is a powerful record of our struggle for basic human rights and dignity.'His creative and entrepreneurial ability gave rise to his establishment of the Cape Town Jazz Festival through which he bolstered South Africa's integration into global culture and linked this prestige event to the development of historically disadvantaged communities.'Rashid achieved a remarkable feat with his love for the diversity and vibrancy of our nation.'He did so with passion and humility that endeared him to everyone with whom he interacted and whose lives he touched. We reflect on his life with gratitude and with liberation and joy he leaves behind as his legacy," Ramaphosa said. GOOD Party leader, Patricia De Lille, extended condolences to Lombard's family, friends, and all music lovers. 'During my time as the Mayor of Cape Town, I had the privilege of working alongside Rashid. The Jazz Festival stood out not just as a world-class musical showcase but as an all-inclusive event that actively worked to build a more inclusive city, one that welcomed all, regardless of colour or creed. Beyond the stage, Rashid Lombard was a celebrated photojournalist whose powerful imagery captured the rise of South Africa's democratic movement and celebrated the vibrant pulse of South African jazz. His extraordinary archive, more than 500 000 film negatives, video and audio recordings, is now preserved at the University of the Western Cape, a treasure trove of memory and meaning. Rashid Lombard's legacy is one of passion, purpose, and people. We honour his life, his art, and his enduring impact,' De Lille said. Ryland Fisher said: 'He was much (more) than a comrade, friend and former colleague to me and many others. I regret that we never had that final catchup that we promised each other. Go well, my brother. At least your pain and suffering is over. May your soul rest in peace.' He is survived by his lifelong-partner Colleen, his sister Fazoe Sydow and his children Chevan, Shadley, Yana, Zach, and Daniel, and his grandchildren Liya, Aydin-Malik, Oliver, Amir Uccio, and Stella Ahed. He will be buried according to Muslim rites on Thursday. Cape Times
