Hamburg Jazz Band
The Hamburg Jazz is a newly established band of young passionate musicians consisting mainly of the youth of Hamburg, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It was founded in 2021 by Qhama Nongce, Sambesiwe Mavela, and Lwandile Ngcolomba.
Due to South Africa’s current unemployment and poverty rate, especially in provinces such as the Eastern Cape, the young musicians of Hamburg took it upon themselves to start a band using their passions and skills to develop themselves and grow and better their communities.
The Band was established to provide music education to rural youth and adults who did not have the opportunity to learn music at a tender age. The Band teaches the people of Hamburg how to play a variety of instruments through weekly lessons in practical jazz music, theory, and jazz ensembles. One main goal is to equip our students with unique African skills and valuable knowledge so that they can achieve excellence through the arts.

We aim to advance the education and preservation of the African music culture and promote and ensure integrated youth and community musical activities. This band promotes unity through diversity as we have people from different backgrounds, religions, and ethnicities as part of the band. One of our goals is to enrich the lives of communities, especially young people and women, through music education, performance, and collaboration.
The members of this band have been exposed to different genres of music, including classical music, African, pop, and jazz. They grew up in Hamburgs small, dusty village, seeing their parents listen and jam to such music. This love of music grew with them and they went on to institutions to learn music. They have performed on several platforms and have stages with well-known artists, including Dumza Maswana, Msaki, and many more. This band prides itself on who they are and what they have accomplished in its musical journey. They got together and thought that it would be best to b back the joy and entertainment of the Hamburg community by playing jazz classics from well-known African artists, including Hugh Masekela, and Abdullah Ibrahim to name a few.
The band now has 15 members from Hamburg, East London, Umzimkhulu (KZN), and Makhanda (Grahamstown, including teachers and students who perform together with the founding members in events. The band would like to grow and spread love through music, “music is the food of the soul.” The music education received by these members taught them discipline, working towards achievable goals, and this is a skill that will allow them to carry themselves through for the rest of their lives. In a village where opportunities for growth and personal development are limited. The Band has become a beacon of discipline, hope and opportunities for the youth of Hamburg and surrounding areas. The Hamburg Jazz Band is recognized and loved in the community for its unique sound which is one of the strengths we have: an integrated approach to African music and jazz.

Band members are:
Qhama Nongce
Lwandile Ngcolomba
Sambesiwe Mavela
Yoliswa Gusha
Aviwe Nkani
Simamkele Maxontana
Zimkhitha Nompunga
Samkelo Mtolo
Mkhululi Peter

TebzaLive Band
TEBZALive Music Band is a AfroJazz Band of four (4) members from Ggeberha in the Eastern Cape. The Band was formed in 2012 by Siyabulela Meleni also known as TEBZALive. Since the formation of the band, TEBZLive has had the pleasure and opportunity of travelling and entertaining at different events around South Africa. TEBZALive has performed alongside well-known musicians and big crowds all over South Africa. TEBZALive specialises in Music festivals, AfroJazz Clubs, Cultural Events, Music Conferences, Community Events etc.

Band Members
Siyabulela Meleni (TEBZALive) – Vocalist
Yanga Ndzamela – Pianist
Nsuku Obedience Mabasa – Base Guitarist
Andile Nomila – Drummer

Temba Ncetani Quintet
Temba Ncetani Quintet is a 5-piece jazz ensemble led by Temba Ncetani. Temba Ncetani is a qualified multi-instrumentalist and jazz musician born and bred in Mthatha. He holds a Diploma in Music and majored in Jazz Studies obtained from Nelson Mandela University (NMU). Temba Ncetani started his early music career when he moved to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) where he was a Bassist for Take Note Jazz Band and received a recording deal for their debut album titled Rear Window under Dr Sipho Sithole (Founder & Owner of Natives Rhythms). Native Rhythms whom signed artists such as Siphokazi, Camagwini, Zulu Boy & The Soil just to mention a few.
Temba Ncetani over the years has worked with jazz giants such as Andile Yenana,McCoy Mrubata,Sibongile Khumalo,Feya Faku, Lex Futshane, Simphiwe Dana just to mention a few. Temba Ncetani has also worked with young and prominent jazz artists in the country such as 2 time Metro Award winner Nomfundo Xaluva,Sisonke Xonti(2021 Standard Bank Young Artist Of The Year), Luyanda Madope & Phumlani Mtiti (2011 SAMA Best Jazz Album winner).
Temba Ncetani as a multi-instrumentalist, he will be gracing the Dakawa Jazz Festival himself on Saxophones (Tenor & Soprano), Flute and Lead Guitar.

Band Members:
Temba Ncetani as a multi-instrumentalist
Zuko Yigi on Bass,
Vuyo Mjindi on Piano,
Lunga Gwevu on Drums and a guest artist on vocals.

Kouga Jazz Band
This musical vessel was formed in 2004 by three visionaries, Daniel and Timothy Hutchinson together with Xolani Faku who subsequently became a leader and musical director of the ensemble. This combo draws the cream from the Kouga Municipality and beyond; interrelating with diversified communities and playing neo-traditional African jazz. The band has focused on translating Xhosa traditional music into a jazz idiom under Faku’s direction.

They have performed at numerous jazz festivals and other events across the Eastern Cape and the surrounding areas; gaining recognition and support from the Cacadu district Municipality and the Eastern Cape Arts & Culture department.

In 2007 they received a recognition award from the Cacadu District Eastern Cape for their outstanding achievement in jazz and cultural music. In 2008 they appeared at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival main stage at the DSG hall for two dates; featuring a world renowned tenor sax player from Cape Town (Buddy Wells), the band was presented by courtesy of the Eastern Cape Recreation, Art & Culture.

A milestone was the recording of their original composition and arrangements at the Miriam Makeba Audio-Visual Centre in East London, an initiative launched by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture to alleviate the lack of recording facilities amongst the music practitioners of that region.

Band Members:
Xolani Faku
Phakamile Msizi
Abongile Dyantyi
Khanya Matomela
Lukhanyo Mamzo
Neliswa Chitha
Yolanda Gcuma

Mambo Jazz Band
Mambo Jazz Band was established in 2014
Performance:
PSJ Gudlulwandle Festival
Matatiele Jazz festival 2 times
Grahamstown
Queenstown Home Coming Jazz
And other many gala dinners at the Wildcoast Sun and many events from the local municipality

Members:
Mzuzile Mgoduka
Xolani Mgcine
Madoda Shusha
Wiseman Chiya
Sphiwe Shabane
Thulani Khowa
Nomsa Hadebe
Sanelisiwe Khowa
Funeka Phephu

War Wore and The Nguni Band
War Wore and The Nguni Band is an Afro Groove inspired sound band based in Sterkspruit, Eastern Cape. The group is known for its uniqueness of performance, with sounds inspired by Hlubi, Xhosa, Phuti and Tlokwa culture yet its music contains elements of Modern Sounds.
Band Members:
Wongeza Sipamla
Sibusiso November
Jenniffer Mthembu
Dumisani Qwanti
Sipho Funani

Queenstown Arts Centre Jazz Band
The above mentioned band was formed in 2007. It was composed of 5 members, Zola Mtiya on drums, Tamsanqa Mbebe on bass guitar, Thembekile Filita on second bass, Cebo Sixaba on keyboards and Mike Qampi on tenor saxophone. This band performed at provincial festivals and other occasions big and small. The band once represented this country in Senegal in 2007. It also recorded at Miriam Makheba Studios with the help of The Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture in 2007.
As time went on the band suffered the loss of its two members, T Mbebe and C Sixaba. Mike Qampi left the province and was replaced by Anthony Drake on saxophone.
The two deceased members were later replaced by Mziwandile Maxwell Kupa and Lungiswa Songelwa who helped coaching the voices at the center and they are vocalists for the band.

Members:
Zola Mtiya
Boysen Mzinyathi
Thembekile Filita
Mzwandile Kapa
Antony Brake
Lungiswa Songelwa

Gompo Jazz Ensemble
This Jazz ensemble has performed live on national stages including BCMM Carnivals and recently Umtiza Festival which is hosted by the Guild Theatre, Ann Bryant Art Gallery and East London Museums. They have also performed at the Makhanda National Arts Festival, Wushwini Pan African Festival and international stages in Germany.

All Gompo Arts Centre current jazz artists who participate in the ensemble have previously attended Durban International Jazz Explosion in the International Arts Festival which was hosted by Wushwini Pan African Centre in Durban. In 2022 the Jazz Ensemble was taken to Durban and recorded an album with the KZN guitar legend, Madala Kunene.

Band Members:
Siyanda Maans
Michael Mitchley
Abby Maqula
Jason Barlow
Mutusile Rosi
Vuyokazi Nyangwa
Asanda Zukani
Yamabuswana Sam
Anele Lento
Mafuzandile Solombela

Lindo
Lindo Mtangayi better known as Usirayeli Akaqedwa hails from kuTsolo in the Eastern Cape. After having a blast of a time on Tik Tok, afro pop singer Lindo Mtangayi takes her sonic adventures elsewhere, crooning a new number titled “Usirayeli Akaqedwa”. “Usirayeli Akaqedwa” is pretty good on the ears, and without a doubt you would have no regret deciding to listen to it. For a singer who has only just popped into our orbit, we would call this a good omen.