By Sitha Maliwa:
The Joburg Theatre roared to life as the 2025 Jazz Wise Youth Music Business Workshop unfolded into a day of vision, inspiration, and unshakable energy. More than just a workshop, it became a stage where the future of Mzansi’s arts and culture industry announced itself with confidence and fire.
Curated as part of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival, the youth-focused programme lived up to its promise of being an empowerment junction for young dreamers, innovators, and rising stars. From sunrise, the theatre was abuzz with the voices of high school learners, university students, and young professionals eager to seize wisdom from the greats – and to make their own mark.
Under the masterful direction of Mandla Selby Maseko, the day unfolded in waves of powerful conversations, fearless exchanges, and deeply practical lessons about surviving and thriving in the arts. Nomfundo Xaluva, the acclaimed jazz vocalist and academic, delivered a keynote that silenced the room – and then set it ablaze. Her words, drenched in honesty and conviction, reminded the youth that artistry is not only about talent but also discipline, sacrifice, and strategy.
What followed was an exhilarating mix of panel discussions, creative workshops, and networking sessions that brought together some of the most dynamic voices in the industry: Neo Ntsoma, Lebo Lion, Judith Mugeni, Busisiwe Ntintili, Nico Phooko, Benjamin Jephta, Gabi Motuba, Kenneth Nzama, Vuyo MacGlad, and Bokang Ramatlapeng – a galaxy of brilliance beaming wisdom onto a new generation.
Each panel packed its own punch. “Purpose, Profit and Law” forced young artists to confront the hard realities of contracts, intellectual property, and sustainability. “The Art of Booking” stripped away the glamour to reveal the grind behind gigs. “Marketing Technologies for the Art of Jazz” electrified the room with strategies to navigate the digital era. And “Global Influences and Career Opportunities” dared participants to think bigger – beyond borders, beyond limitations.
What made the workshop extraordinary was its defiance of tokenism. This was not a polite talk-shop. It was a charged skills-exchange platform, alive with argument, laughter, and the spirit of Mzansi’s restless youth.
“Creating a skills exchange platform like Jazz Wise is important for us as a festival because it signals our commitment to empowering young people, and our confidence in the future of our country and the music industry in general,” said Mantwa Chinoamadi, CEO of T-Musicman and producer of the Joy of Jazz Festival.
Bonga Sebesho, head of sponsorships at Standard Bank, added: “The festival is more than music – it’s industrial development, cultural empowerment, and global exposure. Jazz Wise proves that the future is already here, waiting only to be unlocked.”
The faces that left Joburg Theatre on Wednesday carried something new – not just notes scribbled in journals, but an ignition of purpose. For some, it was the courage to step onto stages. For others, the knowledge to build empires behind them. And for all, it was the recognition that Mzansi’s creative economy belongs to them – if they are ready to fight for it.
As the 26th Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival moves into its grand showcase at the Sandton International Convention Centre, the 2025 Jazz Wise Youth Music Business Workshop has already declared its victory: the torch of jazz, creativity, and cultural entrepreneurship burns brightly in the hands of the next generation. –@NewsSA_Online
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