Global traditions and local culture link up on International Jazz Day

Buffalo City Metro will join cities around the world in celebrating International Jazz Day on Thursday as House 87 hosts a live music showcase aimed at blending global jazz traditions with the Eastern Cape’s cultural identity.

The event, part of House 87’s House of Legends live music series, will feature the Mlungisi Gegana Sextet and promises an experience rooted in local sound, storytelling and community.

House 87 founder Thando Thomas said the decision to host the event was driven by a desire to position KuGompo City within the global cultural landscape.

“House 87 was founded on the idea that culture can drive community, identity and opportunity,” Thomas said.

“Hosting International Jazz Day allows us to connect KuGompo to a global cultural celebration, while also showcasing the depth of talent and creativity that exists in the Eastern Cape.”

He said it was important for smaller cities not to be excluded from international cultural moments.

“We want people to see that world-class jazz experiences can happen here too.”

Nineteen years after composing the song Dimbaza My Home, producer, sound engineer, musician and educator Sinethemba Bili finally released it as a single on Sunday. The song is Bili’s first jazz release. He composed Dimbaza My Home in 2007, but life and other commitments got in the way of him releasing it. “After some time, I got busy with other music projects and work,” Bili said. “Last year, I got back to the composition and reworked it and released it. “I felt it was the correct time, as my sound had developed as well.” Bili said the song carried the spirit and memories of his hometown and was a deeply personal reflection on the place where he was raised and the experiences that shaped his life. “The song is a tribute to my hometown Dimbaza. “It’s a homage to memories and to the landscapes and escarpments that make up Dimbaza,” he said. “From the terrains and slopes of Intaba kaNdoda, the sonic influences of home and the shared culture of community.” The contemporary jazz single forms part of an upcoming EP that will feature five tracks. While many fans may know him for his gospel music, Bili said his latest project reflected another side of his musical identity. “I come from a gospel background, so I have a few gospel songs I have released over the years,” he said. “For my gospel music I go by the name of Sine Bili, and for jazz I use the name Bili Master.” He said the Bili Master moniker was given to him by his mentor, jazz pianist Dr Nduduzo Makhathini, while he was still a student. “It grew on me as I learnt to embrace it,” he said. Bili’s musical journey dates back nearly three decades. He started out in 1997 as part of the Masonwabe Gospel Group in Cape Town, an experience he credits with shaping his foundation as a musician. “Sabelo Goba played a very crucial role in shaping my career, together with Siyabulela Sithela, who was my secondary keyboard coach,” he said. He later returned home to Dimbaza, where he started his own recording studio before deciding to further his studies. In 2016, he enrolled at the University of Fort Hare, where he studied music under Makhathini and Prof Zoliswa Twani, graduating with an honours degree in 2022. The curiosity of childhood as we walked and played, taking in and learning about the culture and different music of the community Over the years, his sound has been influenced by some of the country’s leading jazz pianists, including Abdullah Ibrahim, Andile Yenana and Sibusiso Mashiloane. “The inspiration of the song was the memories of growing up as a young boy playing in the streets of Dimbaza,” Bili said. “The curiosity of childhood as we walked and played, taking in and learning about the culture and different music of the community.” He remembers the local musicians who helped shape his early understanding of music. “The rehearsals were a way of learning and sharing. We would also talk about the history of Dimbaza and places like Intaba kaNdoda. “Back then music was also a platform of mobilisation, and we would talk about what was happening in the country at the time,” he said. Bili recorded, mixed and mastered the track himself under his label, Izwilombono Music and Creatives. He worked with saxophonist Phakamile “Parker” Msizi on the project while programming the rest of the instrumentation. “My music is for an intergenerational audience who can relate to my message of home and all its aspects and memories,” he said. “I want people to remember home when they listen to it.” Though the single is already out, Bili is planning an official launch alongside the release of the EP. “I’ve received positive responses that evoke memories of South African jazz rhythm and culture,” he said. Bili said the release was more than just putting out a song but about finally telling a story he had carried with him for years. Click here to join the Daily Dispatch’s WhatsApp channel and get the latest news delivered straight to your phone Daily Dispatch

Organisers said the event would incorporate elements of Xhosa culture, from music and storytelling to food and atmosphere, creating what they describe as a locally grounded but globally relevant experience.

“The approach is rooted in authenticity. South African jazz has always absorbed global influences while remaining deeply local,” Thomas said.

“We want the experience to feel proudly local.”

The selection of artists, including the Mlungisi Gegana Sextet, was based on shared values around preserving and growing South African jazz through community-driven platforms.

“This collaboration comes from a belief in building meaningful cultural spaces,” Thomas said.

“We hope it inspires young musicians, strengthens confidence in the local scene and encourages more investment into live music.”

The event is expected to attract a wide audience, with a particular focus on inspiring young creatives from areas such as Mdantsane and Quigney.

“We want young musicians to see that there is space for their talent within the city,” Thomas said.

“Beyond performing, there are opportunities in production, event management and the broader creative economy.”

If successful, organisers plan to make the event an annual fixture, building on recent initiatives such as the Quigney Culture Festival held earlier in 2026.

“We would like to expand into workshops, collaborations and youth programmes that position KuGompo as a destination for intimate jazz and cultural experiences,” Thomas said.

Band leader Mlungisi Gegana said the group had prepared a set that reflected both the history and evolution of South African jazz.

“We have prepared two sets of my compositions that celebrate the diversity of our jazz, from 1950s influences to modern styles,” Gegana said.

“We will be taking the audience on a journey that allows them to fall in love with jazz all over again.”

He said the performance aimed to bring people together through music.

“This music does not discriminate. It brings people closer together with love, and that is what we want to share on the day.”

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