KUGOMPO CITY– A blend of jazz, visual art and cultural engagement is set to redefine how heritage spaces are experienced in the Eastern Cape when Jazz & The City hosts a Freedom Month festival at the Ann Bryant Art Gallery on Sunday, 26 April.
The event scheduled from 12:00 noon to 19:00 will feature live performances, an art exhibition and a live auction, bringing together multiple sectors of the creative industry in a single public space.
Headlining the festival is award-winning vocalist Nomfundo Xaluva, whose inclusion organisers say reflects both artistic excellence and the broader significance of women in South Africa’s cultural landscape.
Festival director Papama Mnqandi said the programme is designed to be accessible to a wide audience.“Even those coming from church will find us still there,” Mnqandi said.
The festival forms part of Freedom Month, with organisers deliberately aligning the event to reflect on the historical role of jazz in South Africa’s struggle for liberation.
“Jazz played a significant role during apartheid in the pursuit of freedom, justice and equality,” Mnqandi said.
“It carries important historical relevance, which is why this timing matters.”He added that Xaluva represents a new generation of artists building on the legacy of figures such as Miriam Makeba.
Furthermore, beyond entertainment the festival aims to address limited public access to heritage sites across the province.
Mnqandi noted that many galleries and cultural institutions remain underutilised due to concerns over security and preservation.
“If you eliminate people from the environment, they become hostile, but when you familiarise them with it, they respect it,” he said. “Using culture to open these spaces can help attract tourism and contribute to the local economy.”
Organisers said the event coincides with an existing art auction at the gallery, creating an opportunity for increased public exposure to local artworks.
“It’s no longer just a jazz concert,” Mnqandi said. “It’s a combined cultural experience where music, visual art and commerce intersect.”
In addition the initiative is also positioned as part of a longer-term vision to grow a sustainable cultural platform in the Eastern Cape.
“Our identity is not fixed,” Mnqandi said. “This is a movement that can evolve over time.”He emphasised the importance of maintaining high production standards to match events in other major cities, while also creating an inclusive environment.
“There is no VIP. Everyone is treated the same,” he said.
Despite its ambitions, the event remains self-funded, with organisers identifying financial constraints as a key challenge.
However, Mnqandi maintains that the broader goal is to contribute to cultural development and tourism in the province.Tickets for the event are available via Quicket.
Photographs: Supplied
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