25 February | 7:00 pm – 28 February | 9:00 pm
SAJE hosts its 16th Conference, exploring Indigenous Musical Elements in South African Jazz
The South African Association for Jazz Education (SAJE) will host its 16th SAJE Conference from 25–27 February 2026 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM) in Durban, under the theme: “Indigenous Musical Elements in South African Jazz: Exploring Theory and Practice.”
The 2026 conference will be presented both in-person and virtually, widening access for participants across South Africa and beyond.
Across three days of research paper presentations, masterclasses, workshops, panel discussions and concerts, the programme moves deliberately between theory and practice, asking how indigenous musical knowledge lives inside South African jazz not only as “influence”, but as structure, language, technique and philosophy.
“As we step into this new term of SAJE, we do so with the rich musical heritage of our communities as our foundation,” said Dr Sibusiso Mashiloane, SAJE President. “This year’s theme places indigenous musical knowledge at the centre, asking not only what we play, but how we credit, teach, transmit and evolve the sound responsibly across classrooms, stages and archives.” he adds.
The conference will open with a concert by Cape Jazz/Goema pioneer Hilton Schilder, a multi-instrumentalist long associated with shaping the sound-world of Cape jazz.
The host venue, UKZN’s Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM), is known for convening learning, dialogue and live performance, and for building partnerships that strengthen jazz education and public culture.
The conference closes with a live set at The Chairman, with a bill that brings together three powerful voices in South African jazz: Sbonelo Mlita, a bassist, composer and bandleader whose work moves between Afro-jazz and Afrobeat; Lu Dlamini, a Durban-based vocalist, composer and traditional instrumentalist known for storytelling through song and deep KZN lineage; and Buddy Wells, a Cape Town-based saxophonist, composer and arranger who has performed and recorded widely with major South African and international artists. The closing concert echoes the conference’s core questions, how indigenous musical knowledge, language, and memory sit inside jazz practice.
SAJE’s conference series has helped shape jazz education and scholarship in South Africa for decades, convening educators, artists and researchers around major questions of practice, pedagogy, heritage and innovation.
About SAJE
The South African Association for Jazz Education advances jazz education, research, skills development, performance, audience development, and the documentation and preservation of South African jazz heritage.
The 16th SAJE Conference is made possible through the support of the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC)and eThekwini Municipality. As host, the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM) provides a vital home for jazz education and the city’s live music life, offering space and infrastructure for workshops, rehearsals, performances, and conferences that connect students, professionals, and the wider public.
What to expect: highlights from the programme
Opening Night: Wednesday, 25 February: Sounding the Source
The conference opens with a feature performance by Hilton Schilder and a cocktail reception for delegates, artists and partners to connect.
Day 1: Thursday, 26 February
A strong focus on Cape jazz / goema and Zulu musical elements in jazz practice, including:
- Research session: From Big Band to Ghoema: Reframing Cape Jazz in South African Jazz
- Masterclass: Hilton Schilder: Cape Jazz, Goema Feel & Creative Methods
- Masterclass: Bheki Khoza: Zulu Musical Elements, Indigenous Guitar Language & SA Jazz Practice
- Panels examining groove, phrasing, tonalities, language, and the ethics of “translation” from community sound to stage sounds.
Day 2: Friday, 27 February
A day that foregrounds archives, language, ceremonial practice, and documentation, including:
- Research session: Tracing Indigenous Knowledge in South African Jazz
- Masterclass: Buddy Wells: Saxophone Language, Lineage & Xhosa Sound
- Panel: Xhosa Songcraft in South African Jazz (with selected online contributors)
- Online talk: George Werner: Documenting South African Jazz
- Guest talk: Prof Martin Zenker (IASJ): Internationalisation
- Closing Concert at The Chairman featuring Sibonelo Mlita, Lu Dlamini & Buddy Wells
Event listing
Event: 16th SAJE Conference 2026
Dates: 25–27 February 2026
Theme: Indigenous Musical Elements in South African Jazz: Exploring Theory and Practice
Format: Hybrid (In-person and Virtual)
Main Venue: University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) – Howard College Campus
Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM)
Dennis Shepstone Building, Level 2
Mazisi Kunene Road, Glenwood
Durban, 4041, South Africa
Registration / Ticket Link: https://forms.gle/MzzcKn3b3TBaT9bh6
Full Programme Link: To be confirmed (full programme will be shared soon).
Closing Concert Venue Details
The Chairman
146 Mahatma Gandhi Road
Durban, 4001, South Africa
Time: 19:00 – 21:00
The closing concert will feature Sibonelo Mlita, Lu Dlamini and Buddy Wells.