The Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study (JIAS), in collaboration with MMArtHouse/uMnikelo Sonic Sessions, hosted an evening of conversation and live music featuring award-winning bassist, composer and bandleader Herbie Tsoaeli in conversation with jazz advocate Dinga Sikwebu on 3 September 2026.
Presented as part of the Herbie Tsoaeli uMnikelo Residency, the Jazz @ JIAS event offered audiences an intimate exploration of Tsoaeli’s musical journey, creative practice and the cultural influences that have shaped his distinctive approach to music.
Throughout the conversation, Tsoaeli reflected on the sounds and traditions that surrounded him while growing up, from church hymns and community ceremonies to the music and everyday rhythms of township life. He spoke about how these different influences became part of his musical vocabulary, allowing him to move between traditions and draw inspiration from the communities and experiences around him.
The discussion also explored Tsoaeli’s approach to composition. Rather than following a fixed formula, he described music as something that can emerge unexpectedly through a melody, a dream, a sound, or an everyday experience. This openness to inspiration has remained central to his creative practice and his approach to improvisation and collaboration.
Another important theme was the role of musical heritage and the importance of acknowledging those who came before. Tsoaeli reflected on paying tribute to musicians who influenced his journey, describing previous generations as an enduring part of the history from which contemporary musicians continue to learn.
The conversation extended beyond Tsoaeli’s individual journey to consider broader questions about South African music and cultural life. Audience members raised questions about cultural and musical education in communities, the preservation and archiving of South African music, spirituality, political expression, changing musical genres and the relationship between jazz and younger generations.
Tsoaeli emphasised the importance of creating spaces where younger generations can encounter music and cultural practices, while remaining open to contemporary sounds and new possibilities for collaboration.
The evening demonstrated that jazz is not a fixed or isolated musical form, but part of a much broader cultural landscape shaped by community, memory, spirituality, experimentation, and exchange.
The conversation was followed by a live performance by Tsoaeli, transforming many of the ideas discussed during the evening into sound and providing audiences with an opportunity to experience his improvisational approach first-hand.
Jazz @ JIAS brought together musicians, scholars, students and members of the public for an evening that moved seamlessly between conversation and performance, celebrating South African jazz while reflecting on the histories, communities and creative traditions that continue to sustain it.
The Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study extends its appreciation to Herbie Tsoaeli, Dinga Sikwebu, MMArtHouse/uMnikelo Sonic Sessions, and everyone who joined the event in person and online.
