ONE of SA’s living legend Mama Abigail Kubeka to be honoured.
The legendary tsar will be given her fresh flowers at the award ceremony Van Toeka Af, organised by the department of arts and culture, on Saturday 5, at the South African State Theatre, Pretoria.
Celebrating an extraordinary 68-year career in South Africa’s music, arts, and cultural landscape, this one-night-only event will unite more than 25 legendary performers, all offering their time and talent in tribute to a woman whose voice, grace, and artistic influence have helped shape the soul of South African culture.
The Soweto born- Orlando East, Mama Kubeka’s career began in the 1950s, and she remains one of the last surviving artists to have performed alongside greats such as Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela during the apartheid era.
Her body of work spans film, television, jazz, theatre, and activism — a legacy that continues to uplift and inspire.
“Mama Abigail Kubeka is more than a performer — she is a living archive of our nation’s cultural memory. For nearly seven decades, her voice has carried the spirit of resistance, healing, and hope. Honouring her is both a duty and a privilege, reminding us that our greatest cultural treasures still walk among us, guiding us with wisdom and unmatched artistry.”
“The Van Toeka Af programme is about legacy, memory, and dignity. It says to our artists: we see you, we thank you, and we honour you. It ensures that future generations know whose shoulders they stand on and gives recognition to those who created beauty and meaning during some of South Africa’s darkest hours,” according to press release from the department.
Van Toeka Af– is a colloquialism primarily used in Afrikaans meaning ‘a long time ago, or back in the day’.
The tribute ceremony will be directed by the esteemed Khaya Mahlangu, and will feature performances from luminaries such as Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Faith Kekana, Mandisa Dlanga, Khanyo Maphumulo, and Stella Khumalo. The audience can also look forward to musical contributions from icons including Sipho Mabuse, McCoy Mrubata, Babsy Mlangeni, and Fana Zulu, with a powerful opening performance by Zenzi Makeba Lee alongside the Miriam Makeba Band.
This tribute forms part of the Department’s ongoing commitment to “give them their flowers while they can still smell them” — a core ethos of the Van Toeka Af Living Legends Recognition Series, launched in 2023, and provides sustainable support through platforms such as the Living Legends Legacy Fraternity Trust (LLLFT).
Van Toeka Af also bestowed flowers to cultural giants Dr John Kani and Dr Tete Mbambisa.
Minister of arts and culture Gayton McKenzie & his deputy minister Mabe both commented at the previous Van Toeka Af celebration: “Let us not wait for memorials to honour our legends.
Let us do it now, while their light still shines, and their stories still teach.”
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, 5 July 2025
- Time: 18:00
- Venue: State Theatre, Pretoria
- Dress Code: Black Tie
Image (SA’s darling and globetrotter Yvonne Chaka-Chaka, on the left, who will perform on the evening, honouring Mama Abigail Kubeka, right, at the Van Toeka Af award ceremony).
