Cape Town is set to open its doors to a powerful celebration of sound, culture and collaboration as the AfroDiaspora Connection launches its upcoming music events series this May and June.
The series begins in Cape Town on 23 May, moves to Johannesburg on 31 May, and returns to Cape Town for a closing showcase on 3 June. Across all three stops, audiences can expect a dynamic mix of local and international artists, reflecting the growing creative bridge between South Africa and the United Kingdom.
AfroDiaspora Connection is a multi-year collaborative music exchange project designed to build a sustainable, cross-cultural music ecosystem between South Africa and the UK. It is curated by THE DIG GLOBAL, a Johannesburg-based alternative music development agency, in collaboration with Jazz Refreshed, a UK-based jazz and alternative music organisation. Together, the two organisations are working to strengthen connections between artists while amplifying the voices of jazz and alternative music communities across both regions.
At its core, the initiative is about more than live performance. It focuses on long-term, impact-driven collaboration that supports artist development, touring opportunities, music exchange, education, and the sharing of industry knowledge. It also aims to create meaningful, ongoing partnerships that extend beyond individual shows and into sustained creative ecosystems.
This year’s lineup reflects that spirit of collaboration, bringing together a diverse group of artists from both sides of the Afro-diasporic soundscape. From the UK, audiences can expect performances from Kokoroko.
Representing South Africa are artists such as Internet Athi, who recently released his debut album, Nala Collective, an all-female band with powerful live presence and Muneyi, whose emotionally rich storytelling continues to resonate with audiences.. Together, these artists represent a growing wave of Afro-diasporic sound—rooted in heritage while continuously pushing sonic boundaries. Across the three-city run, the series is expected to spotlight not only performances, but also moments of collaboration, exchange and community building between artists and audiences.
More than a music tour, AfroDiaspora Connection positions itself as a platform for cultural exchange and sustainable creative growth, strengthening ties between South Africa and the UK. By connecting artists across borders, it fosters new opportunities for collaboration, touring circuits and shared learning within the global jazz and alternative music landscape.
As independent music scenes become increasingly interconnected, initiatives like AfroDiaspora Connection highlight the power of music as a bridge—linking continents, communities and creative futures through sound.
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