Thandiswa Mazwai returns to the stage

Proudly queer star Thandiswa Mazwai is bringing her previously sold-out show A Letter to Azania to the South African State Theatre in Pretoria for one night only in February.

A Letter to Azania is a music special by musician and cultural figure Thandiswa Mazwai. It tracks a letter the singer is writing to “Azania” as a place of freedom and takes the audience on a sonic exploration of the utopian idea of Azania while expressing the melancholy that comes with a dream deferred.

Centring love, the show opens with the words of revolutionary Ché Guevara, “the revolution is driven by great feelings of love” and Thandiswa adds “a love for the people, a love for country, and a love for justice.”

Thandiswa uses her music to create new worlds and calls us all to awaken our imagination and remember the teachings of old as we forge a new world.

In this audiovisual experience, curated by Thandiswa in partnership with the South African State Theatre, expect a range of sounds that have influenced Thandiswa’s recordings and performances over the years: Jazz, Kwaito, Afro Funk, Reggae, Gospel and Traditional music.

There will be songs from her own albums, such as Nizalwa Ngobani, Transkei Moon, Ingoma, Jikijela, and renditions of tracks by some of her favourite musicians.

Thandiswa Mazwai has long been one of the most influential musicians on the South African music scene. She began her career in 1995 with Bongo Maffin, one of the pioneering bands of the Kwaito era.

After 6 award-winning albums with Bongo Maffin she ventured onto a solo career. Her first project Zabalaza (2004), reached double-platinum status and won numerous awards, including a Kora award for Best African Female and four South African Music Awards. Her sophomoric release Ibokwe (2009) and third album Belede (2016) reached gold status within a few weeks of release.

Thandiswa has performed all over the world at venues including: the FIFA 2010 World Cup Opening Ceremony, the Apollo Theatre, Radio City Hall, The Cannes Film Festival, Africa Express, BBC World Music Awards, TED, Afropunk, Carnegie Hall Citywide Festival, among others.

She has also shared the stage with legends like Salif Keita, Hugh Masekela, Busi Mhlongo, Stevie Wonder, Cesaria Evora, Paul Simon, and many others.

A Letter to Azania is on at the State Theatre in Pretoria on 25 February at 19:00. Tickets are priced between R275 and R550 on Webtickets.