Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ School of Arts presents Africa Month 2026
- Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University
Water as Life, Memory, and Infrastructure: Artistic and Intellectual Responses from Africa and the Global South.
Get ready for an unforgettable Africa Month as the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ School of Arts (WSOA) unveils its 2026 programme—a vibrant celebration bursting with electrifying performances, inspiring exhibitions, captivating film screenings, hands-on workshops, and thought-provoking discussions happening all May long.
This year’s theme, “Water as Life, Memory, and Infrastructure: Artistic and Intellectual Responses from Africa and the Global South,” pulses through every event. Experience how artists, scholars, and creative thinkers from across Africa and beyond turn the power of water into a source of inspiration, storytelling, and cultural transformation—shaping histories, identities, and creative futures across the continent and its diasporas. View the programme.
Africa Month 2026 isn’t just an event—it’s a journey! Dive into a curated adventure that flows between music, movement, visual art, storytelling, and policy. There’s something for everyone, with countless ways to connect, reflect, and celebrate what it means to belong.
Kick off Africa Month on 5 May with WHEN WATERS GATHER, an explosive Jazz Big Band concert that launches a month of unforgettable experiences. The excitement continues on 6 May with a full day of highlights: feel the rhythm at the African Music concert Echoes of Water: Memory, Rhythm, and Life, be inspired by a keynote from industry leader Maya Spector, and dive deep into creativity and culture with the thought-provoking panel Do We Water Dry Land?: South African Jazz, African Music, and Their Rivers.
Don’t miss these not-to-be-missed experiences throughout May:
- Unmissable theatre like AUSTRALOPITHECUS, directed by the acclaimed Dr Kgafela oa Magogodi, promises unforgettable drama and artistry;
- Captivating film screenings—catch The Heart Is a Muscle (2025) with director Imran Hamdulay, and Kalushi, followed by exclusive director discussions;
- Immersive workshops and creative sessions led by renowned artists Vincent Mantsoe and Yuck Miranda;
- A powerful storytelling performance by acclaimed praise poet Majesty Mnyandu, celebrating indigenous oral traditions and living heritage;
- Inspirational exhibitions and cutting-edge digital projects like the Sophiatown Jazz Archive and Liquid Signals, bringing the past and future together in new and exciting ways.
The grand finale on 31 May is the unmissable Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba Tribute, starring Zenzi Makeba Lee and her band. As the granddaughter of the legendary Miriam Makeba, Zenzi lights up the stage, honouring a musical icon and closing Africa Month 2026 with soul, power, and unforgettable memories.
Speaking on the programme, organizers emphasize that Africa Month 2026 is as much about connection as it is about critique: “This is a programme that invites us to listen differently—to hear how histories flow through sound, how memory is carried in the body, and how artistic practice allows us to imagine new forms of relation and belonging.”
Everyone is welcome! Most events are free, so bring your friends, family, and curiosity. Join us at the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ School of Arts and be part of this inspiring, community-powered celebration of African creativity and innovation.