Jozi Journeys
Dumza Maswana Brings the Umngqungqo Orchestral Experience to Joburg
On Saturday, 18 October 2025, Johannesburg’s Market Theatre will host a night that promises to be more than a concert. Dumza Maswana, the celebrated baritone whose voice is steeped in heritage and soul, will bring his Umngqungqo Orchestral Experience to the city for the very first time.
Known for fusing jazz and soul with the heartbeat of indigenous rhythm, Maswana’s music is deeply rooted in storytelling. At this performance, he will also play the uhadi, the traditional Xhosa bow instrument, reclaiming its sacred sound and introducing it to a wider orchestral context. This instrument, long used in rituals and storytelling, gives the concert a spiritual depth that goes far beyond entertainment.
An Orchestra Fit for Royalty
Maswana will be joined by a full 20-piece orchestra, conducted by Sakhile Simani and directed by Mthokozisi Mabuza. Together, they will craft a soundscape that feels both intimate and expansive, weaving sacred narrative into symphonic harmony. It is a bold blending of classical form with African tradition, an approach that honours the past while pushing creative boundaries.
The evening’s theme, African Royalty, invites audiences to come dressed in their finest regalia. The Market Theatre is expected to glow with colour, pride, and cultural dignity. This is not only about the performance on stage but also about the audience embodying heritage through presence and dress. The concert becomes a collective celebration, not a one-sided spectacle.
A Stage with History
The choice of the Market Theatre is significant. For decades, it has stood as a beacon of cultural resistance and artistic innovation. During the years of struggle, it became a space where South Africans told their stories against all odds. To host the Umngqungqo Orchestral Experience here ties Maswana’s music to that legacy of truth and resilience.
For Joburgers, the theatre has always been more than just a venue. It is a cultural landmark. Welcoming Umngqungqo to its stage feels like both a continuation and an expansion of that story, one that merges theatre, music, history, and heritage into a single evening.
Building Anticipation
Public excitement has already taken hold on social media. Posts describe the concert as a “spiritual experience” and a “must-see for anyone who cares about the future of South African music.” Others point out the importance of Maswana playing the uhadi, a symbol of the connection between tradition and modern performance. For fans who have followed his career, this concert feels like a culmination, a moment when his work reaches its fullest form.
It is not just about Dumza Maswana stepping onto a bigger stage, but about Johannesburg itself becoming the canvas for an event that blends the contemporary with the ancestral.
More Than Music
What makes Maswana’s performances unforgettable is not only his technical brilliance but also his ability to create community through music. Umngqungqo is not designed for quiet listening alone. It is meant to be experienced collectively, as a shared journey of memory, spirit, and pride.
As the orchestra swells and the uhadi’s resonance fills the Market Theatre, audiences will not only hear music. They will feel it vibrate through history, identity, and belonging.
On 18 October, the city will witness more than a concert. It will be a cultural homecoming, a reminder that music in South Africa is never just sound. It is heritage, it is a story, and it is a living testament to who we are.
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Source: AllEvents
Featured Image: Webtickets
