Zolani Mahola to headline Cape Town International Jazz Festival free concert
Zolani Mahola will headline the free concert at Greenmarket Square.
Image: supplied
Cape Town’s city centre will once again turn into an open-air stage when the free concert that traditionally launches the Cape Town International Jazz Festival returns to Greenmarket Square on Wednesday, March 25.
The much-anticipated event offers residents and visitors a lively musical celebration ahead of the festival weekend, drawing crowds to the historic square for an evening of live performances and shared rhythm in the heart of the city.
This year’s free concert will be headlined by celebrated South African singer, actress and storyteller Zolani Mahola, who now performs under the stage name The One Who Sings. Mahola is widely known as the former lead singer of Freshlyground, a role she held from 2002 before launching her solo career.
Organisers describe the free concert as an inclusive cultural curtain-raiser that sets the tone for the main festival. The event typically brings together a mix of acclaimed international performers and dynamic South African talent, all performing free of charge.
The event offers Capetonians and visitors a lively, open‑air musical celebration ahead of Africa’s grandest gathering of jazz and contemporary sounds.
While the rest of the line-up is set to be released soon, this event is an inclusive cultural curtain‑raiser that sets the tone for the main festival, which takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) over the weekend.
Last year, performers such as renowned musician Fancy Galada and Kwaito legends TKZee took to the stage. Past editions have also showcased a wide array of talents across genres linked to jazz, soul, funk and contemporary African music, highlighting the breadth of South Africa’s rich music scene.
Organisers typically aim to strike a balance between established headline artists and rising stars, giving emerging performers an influential platform in front of enthusiastic audiences.
The free concert remains family‑friendly and accessible, transforming Greenmarket Square into a buzzing cultural hub with rhythmic beats, diverse sounds and the unmistakable spirit of Cape Town’s music community.
Street closures are typically put in place to ensure safety and a strong pedestrian experience around the square, while the event itself builds excitement for the main CTIJF line-up - which this year includes globally acclaimed names performing across multiple CTICC stages over Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28.
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) is Africa’s largest jazz festival, celebrated annually in Cape Town.
Now in its 23rd year, the festival showcases a mix of local and international talent, from world-renowned artists to emerging musicians, across multiple stages at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Beyond performances, the CTIJF hosts masterclasses, workshops, and over 40 community and cultural events throughout the year, promoting music education, accessibility, and community development.
The family-friendly event transforms Greenmarket Square into a vibrant cultural hub filled with rhythmic beats, diverse sounds and the unmistakable energy of Cape Town’s music community.
Street closures are typically implemented around the square to ensure safety and allow pedestrians to enjoy the festivities.
The concert also builds anticipation for the main Cape Town International Jazz Festival programme, which takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28.
Few musicians have shaped the sound and soul of South African jazz quite like Abdullah Ibrahim.
The 91-year-old pianist and composer will return to the stage at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF), performing on March 27 to 28, as part of the festival’s highly anticipated 2026 edition.
Over six decades, he would transform those early influences into a musical language that blends Cape jazz traditions, gospel undertones, African musical idioms and the improvisational spirit of global jazz.