standard bank young artist awardlatest news & developments
Soul food: Out of necessity Gabi Motuba sings, she swings black life and her conduction is continuously marshalling an imminent feeling of self-sovereignty. Photo: Standard Bank

Gabi Motuba and the sound of sacred resistance

Gabi Motuba’s music stretches beyond jazz, transforming grief, memory and resistance into a spiritual sonic language rooted in black life and liberation

  • Library
7 min read
Take a bow: Siya Charles, winner of this year’s Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz performs on stage. Photo: Mark Wessels

Art, politics and integrity: The Standard Bank Young Artist Award then and now

Ahead of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, Kwanele Sosibo interviews this year’s music and jazz SBYA winners for their reflections on the history and meaning of the awards

  • Eyaaz
9 min read
Blowing them away: Cape Town-born, and educated at UCT and The Juilliard School in New York, this year’s Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz winner, trombonist Siya Charles, will perform at the Joy of Jazz Festival in Joburg later this month. Photo: Mark Wessels and Daniel Song

Musician Siya Charles is breaking brass ceilings

The 2025 Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz reflects on her beginnings, her inspirations and her vision for South African jazz

  • Eyaaz
8 min read
My word: Modise Sekgothe has been given the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Poetry — the second recipient in four decades.

Modise Sekgothe’s poetry of transformation

In a quiet moment on an otherwise ordinary afternoon, Modise Sekgothe found out he had been selected as only the second poet to win the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Poetry in its 40-year history.  “I was in the house writing,” he tells me when we speak at an event introducing this year’s winners […]

  • Eyaaz
8 min read

A journey beyond music, exploring art, justice and transformation with Msaki

KUTHI MANDITHETHE: Of Art & Justice is running until 31 January 2025 at the Standard Bank Art Gallery

5 min read
Well versed: Artist and poet Lefifi Tladi will be at the festival.

Diary: Stephané Edith Conradie’s exhibition opens at the Standard Bank Gallery, Poetry Africa returns in October,  Fizzy B releases Abahlali

Your essential dose of art and culture

2 min read
Miles to go: (From top) Local trumpeter Darren English, who will be performing at the National Arts Festival this weekend, says he is inspired by American jazz musicians Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis. Photos: Anthony Barboza/Getty Images

Jazz maestro Darren English to debut ‘The Birth’ at National Arts Festival

We chat to Darren English about his musical journey, inspiration and experience on stage

  • Umamah Bakharia
7 min read

Lady Skollie has an ace in the hole

A workshop with the artist paves the way for healing, self-discovery and cultural education

  • Des Erasmus
5 min read