Welcome to the SAJE home page!
The mission of the South African Association for Jazz Education is:
The mission of the South African Association for Jazz Education is:
- to assure the growth of jazz in South Africa and the development of jazz and jazz education in urban and rural areas,
- to build the jazz arts community by advancing education and research,
- to promote skills development and performance,
- to develop new audiences,
- to document, preserve and archive our South African jazz heritage.
16th SAJE CONFERENCE
25 - 27 FEBRUARY 2026
UKZN Centre for Jazz and Popular Music
"Indigenous Musical Elements in South African Jazz: Exploring Theory and Practice"
This years’ conference explores how indigenous musical knowledge lives inside South African jazz, as “influence”, but also as structure, language, technique, and philosophy. We move between theory and practice: analysing rhythm, melody, harmony, tone, form, and improvisation; while also hearing and seeing these ideas in performance, demonstration, and workshop spaces. Across traditions (including ngoma approaches, marabi, mbaqanga, maskandi, Cape idioms, bow and choral lineages), we ask what it means to learn, credit, transmit, and innovate responsibly, in the studio, on stage, and in academics.
The SAJE, an organisation dedicated to promoting South African jazz creative practice, scholarship, community engagement, and dialogue, encourages participation from jazz musicians and educators, academics, cultural practitioners, jazz appreciation societies, students, music teachers, schools, and all those invested in South Africa’s vibrant jazz ecosystem.
The 2026 conference will be held both in-person and virtually, providing a communal space for collaboration, performance, masterclasses, and critical exchanges and reflection.
Register online to attend: https://forms.gle/MzzcKn3b3TBaT9bh6
25 - 27 FEBRUARY 2026
UKZN Centre for Jazz and Popular Music
"Indigenous Musical Elements in South African Jazz: Exploring Theory and Practice"
This years’ conference explores how indigenous musical knowledge lives inside South African jazz, as “influence”, but also as structure, language, technique, and philosophy. We move between theory and practice: analysing rhythm, melody, harmony, tone, form, and improvisation; while also hearing and seeing these ideas in performance, demonstration, and workshop spaces. Across traditions (including ngoma approaches, marabi, mbaqanga, maskandi, Cape idioms, bow and choral lineages), we ask what it means to learn, credit, transmit, and innovate responsibly, in the studio, on stage, and in academics.
The SAJE, an organisation dedicated to promoting South African jazz creative practice, scholarship, community engagement, and dialogue, encourages participation from jazz musicians and educators, academics, cultural practitioners, jazz appreciation societies, students, music teachers, schools, and all those invested in South Africa’s vibrant jazz ecosystem.
The 2026 conference will be held both in-person and virtually, providing a communal space for collaboration, performance, masterclasses, and critical exchanges and reflection.
Register online to attend: https://forms.gle/MzzcKn3b3TBaT9bh6
Meet the new SAJE Boards for 2025 - 2027
SAJE Executive Board 2025 – 2027
President: Sibusiso Mashiloane (UKZN)
Vice-President: Phuti Sepuru (UNISA)
Treasurer: Thulile Zama (UKZN)
Secretary: Monique Hellenberg (NMU)
SAJE Regional Representatives Board 2025-2027
Viwe Mkizwana
Benjamin Jephta
Mimi Mtshali
Claire Rontsch
Shaun Johannes
Kyle du Preez
SAJE Executive Board 2025 – 2027
President: Sibusiso Mashiloane (UKZN)
Vice-President: Phuti Sepuru (UNISA)
Treasurer: Thulile Zama (UKZN)
Secretary: Monique Hellenberg (NMU)
SAJE Regional Representatives Board 2025-2027
Viwe Mkizwana
Benjamin Jephta
Mimi Mtshali
Claire Rontsch
Shaun Johannes
Kyle du Preez
South African Jazz Stories 2020-2022
An online jazz video project
#southafricanjazzstories
SAJE on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@southafricanassociationforjazz/featured
An online jazz video project
#southafricanjazzstories
SAJE on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@southafricanassociationforjazz/featured
