THE penultimate evening of the 2026 National Arts Festival in Makhanda witnessed Mamelodi-raised singer Gabi Motuba bringing an ensemble which also featured the local Kwantu Choir, at the Rhodes University Great Hall – for a performance titled The Sounds of a Black Girl.
Featuring renowned musicians such as jazz pianist Afrika Mkhize and drummer Tumi Mogorosi – among a cast which also featured percussion, double bass, flute, guitar, trumpet – the sonic event was Motuba’s obligatory presentation as a 2026 Standard Bank Young Artist award recipient to perform at South Africa’s biggest and prestigious annual rendezvous.
An awardee in the Jazz category, Motuba led her ensemble through sets as she took an international multi-hued audience through songs she mentioned she had never played before.
With impresario Katse Semenya momentarily checking in before commencement of the musical journey at the historic landmark, Motuba’s ensemble wasted no time in treating aficionados of her sound in heating up the venue with singalongs and dancing.
Billed as a presentation which centred on vocal improvisation while traversing the terrains of spiritual jazz and neo soul, Motuba rendered compositions (with one created by Mogorosi) in various languages which included one in French titled ‘Avec le Temps’. A song popularised by French artist Leo Ferre meaning ‘with time’ – it was apt for the occasion since Motuba punted her show as “revisiting the past in songs.”
The Gauteng-based artist had, et al., an attendee from KuGompo named Sanele Mgangxela, spiritedly singing along to tracks ranging from ‘Flower Goddess’ to ‘Imithandazo’. The show was the moment Motuba claimed new musical territory through an expansive and experimental compositional approach.
The show was also testament to Motuba’s credential as also being an effective music educator as expressed through the synergy which flew between her vocalization at the front of the stage and the complementary backing rendered by members of the Kwantu Choir who were positioned at the back of the stage.
Incredibly, Motuba mentioned that she had only rehearsed with the choir once – earlier on, on the day of her show.
Apart from the choir led by Kutlwano Kepadisa, Motuba’s ensemble further comprised of Capetonian cellist Carol Williams, trumpet and flugelhorn player Robin Fassie, Soweto flute player Thabang Moloi, electric guitarist Reza Khota and bass player Josh Nemaire.
Previously quoted as saying jazz was her way of life and style, the music educator, arranger and composer informed the appreciative audience in between sets that “music is very important to me” – and graciously concluded: “I like to say thank you very much for being here.”
Also scheduled to perform at another of the country’s biggest music events, viz the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz in Sandton in September – what attendees witnessed on a buzzing early evening in the picturesque varsity town of the Eastern Cape was a vocalist supreme whose curated one night-only appearance framed the genre of jazz as a threshold rather than a limit!
During a brief after show interview pending a meet-and-greet moment with attendees in the foyer of the venue, the Tshwane University of Technology alumna expressed relief at finally and successfully delivering on the contractual part of her deal with the financial giant to perform on the country’s most revered platform for creatives – as one of its awards winners.
Image Jacob MAWELA (Gabi Motuba limned taking a bow alongside her ensemble inside the Great Hall of Rhodes University after performing the curated programme Sounds of a Black Girl at the National Arts Festival, at Makhanda.)
