The South African Association for Jazz Education (SAJE) will host its 16th national conference from 25 to 27 February 2026 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Jazz and Popular Music in Durban, placing indigenous musical knowledge at the centre of South African jazz education, performance and scholarship.
Held under the theme “Indigenous Musical Elements in South African Jazz: Exploring Theory and Practice,” the hybrid conference will bring together educators, researchers, students and performers from across South Africa and internationally. The programme spans research presentations, masterclasses, panel discussions and live performances, creating a space where academic insight and musical practice intersect.
“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.”
The conference will open with a performance by Cape Jazz and goema pioneer Hilton Schilder, whose work has shaped the sound and identity of South African jazz. Over the following days, sessions will explore Cape jazz, Zulu musical elements, Xhosa songcraft and indigenous instrumental language, examining how traditional musical knowledge informs contemporary jazz structure, technique and storytelling.
Masterclasses led by leading musicians, including guitarist Bheki Khoza and saxophonist Buddy Wells, will offer practical insight into indigenous musical phrasing, tonal systems and improvisation. Panel discussions and research sessions will address the ethics of translating community-based musical traditions into formal education and performance spaces.
The conference will conclude with a live performance at The Chairman in Durban, featuring bassist and composer Sibonelo Mlita, vocalist and traditional instrumentalist Lu Dlamini, and saxophonist Buddy Wells, reflecting the conference’s core themes of heritage, memory and innovation in jazz practice.
SAJE’s conference series has played a central role in advancing jazz education, research and performance in South Africa, strengthening connections between academic institutions, musicians and communities, while preserving and evolving the country’s rich jazz heritage.
The conference is supported by the National Arts Council of South Africa and the eThekwini Municipality, reinforcing Durban’s position as a key centre for jazz education, performance and cultural exchange.
