The Goethe Library Jams: Live Concert Sessions Recorded in an Intimate Library Setting

The Goethe Library Jams (LibraryJams) is one of Johannesburg’s most intimate and innovative music experiences, dedicated to showcasing the diversity and creativity of South Africa’s live music landscape. This year’s line-up showcases three incredible acts all set to perform live on Wednesday, 3 September 2025. Here’s what you need to know.

The Goethe Library Jams by Thabang Radebe | What's on in Joburg — Image by Thabang Radebe

What are LibraryJams?

Hosted by the Goethe-Institut South Africa, the LibraryJams series provides a platform for both established and emerging artists across genres, celebrating the richness of the country’s musical voices.

Inspired by NPR’s famed Tiny Desk Concerts, LibraryJams transforms the Goethe-Institut Library into a stage for live performances and recordings, bringing audiences closer to the music in an unforgettable setting.

Each concert is recorded and later released as a digital video series, ensuring the magic of the live performance resonates far beyond the library walls.

On the lineup

This year’s line-up showcases three incredible acts: Zawadi Yamungu, Babble Hume and The Cooligans. They join the growing alumni of Library Jams artists including Zoë Modiga, Zaki Ibrahim, Urban Village, Msaki, and Kujenga.

Zawadi Yamungu

Nkosingiphile Mpanza, better known by her evocative stage name Zawadi Yamungu, is a vocalist, composer and instrumentalist whose artistry speaks directly to the soul.

Her music blends ancestral instruments such as the umakhweyana bow and ugubhu with the vibrant textures of Afro-jazz, soul and electronic fusion, creating a sonic landscape that invites listeners to reconnect with cultural identity while fostering healing and celebration.

In June 2025 she released her debut album Ngimuhle (“I’m Beautiful”), an 11-track exploration of African beauty, resilience and pride. The album includes a moving rendition of Princess Magogo’s Ngithethelele, recorded with the royal family’s blessing, affirming her role as both innovator and cultural custodian.

Babble Hume

Joining Zawadi at LibraryJams is Babble Hume, a dynamic South African collective formed in 2024 by three vocalists and two producers. Known for their boundary-pushing sound and eclectic mix of influences, the group thrives on experimentation and spontaneity.

Their performances carry raw emotion and a sense of discovery, earning them a reputation in South Africa’s underground scene as fearless innovators unafraid to blur genres. Their live shows are intimate yet explosive, weaving storytelling and improvisation into something immediate and otherworldly.

The Cooligans

Completing the line-up is The Cooligans, a Johannesburg-based trio formed in 2019. With more than a decade of live performance experience between them, they are committed to breaking rules and reshaping genres into something entirely their own.

Their debut EP Death of the Genre Pt. 1 (2022) was a bold manifesto, fusing afro-beats, kwaito, experimental rock and jazz into groove-infused tracks like Umkathi, Tink O’ Somting and 00:00 Midnight. Known for combining digital and analog instruments (drums, synths, keys, bass and percussion) with vocals, they channel a philosophy of freedom, creativity and unity.

High-energy and vibrant, The Cooligans bring a fresh flair to the stage while reminding audiences that music has the power to connect collective consciousness and universal love.

Performance schedule + how to book

This is an opportunity to experience intimate live performances in a unique cultural space, be part of the recording of an exciting video series, and discover and connect with emerging South African talent, all for free.

Performances are scheduled as follows: