South African (SA) music icon Thandiswa Mazwai is set to launch the Sankofa Heritage Festival, a landmark event celebrating her 50th birthday and three decades in the music industry.

The festival will take place on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Big Top Arena, Carnival City, Johannesburg, with tickets available via Computicket.

Mazwai, who first rose to fame as part of the pioneering group Bongo Maffin, will headline the festival. Her latest solo album, Sankofa, released last year, has already received five SA Music Awards (SAMA) nominations. She will share the stage with friends and collaborators representing a diverse mix of African music styles, spanning multiple generations. The full lineup will be revealed in the coming months.

Reflecting on her journey, Mazwai said, “It’s almost unbelievable that I am turning 50 and have spent more than half my life in music. My first radio hit was 30 years ago with a group called Jacknife, and I am honoured to still be one of the top nominated artists at the SAMAs for my album Sankofa. I have been truly blessed.”

The Sankofa Heritage Festival aims to celebrate and preserve indigenous African music. Each performance will blend traditional rhythms with contemporary sounds, creating a bridge between the past, present, and future of African music. Mazwai explained that the festival is designed not only to provide a platform for emerging artists but also to celebrate African culture and community.

“There is a need for more artist-led festivals that centre on music, freedom, and community,” Mazwai said. “I am excited to add my own voice to that intention and to celebrate our cultures and collective humanity.”

The festival is supported by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture’s Mzansi Golden Economy Initiative, highlighting its role in promoting cultural and artistic development.

–ChannelAfrica–