Divas in Concert 2024: Thandiswa Mazwai, Simphiwe Dana, Makhadzi and More

The 2024 edition of Divas in Concert promises yet another extraordinary celebration featuring an all-female lineup with powerful performances on Saturday, 10 August. This music concert series is typically held during Women’s Month, and this year’s event also marks 30 years of democracy in South Africa while honouring the immense contributions of women to our society and culture. Pack your own picnic blanket for a chilled afternoon at this outdoor concert in Emmarentia.

Enjoy a diverse range of live music genres, from Afro-soul and traditional African sounds to contemporary pop and jazz. Some of the country’s leading and emerging women artists take the stage to showcase the country’s rich musical heritage. Here is the Divas in Concert 2024 lineup.

Thandiswa Mazwai

‘She is the leader of the past which is now the future’ said Hugh Masekela about Thandiswa Mazwai. Thandiswa has been one of the most influential singers in South Africa for the last 27years. She began her career in 1996 with music groups JackKnife and Bongo Maffin, one of the pioneering bands of the post-Apartheid dance music genre Kwaito. After 6 award-winning albums with Bongo Maffin she ventured onto a solo career

Expect selected songs from her past few albums as well as her latest work, Sankofa. The new body of work weaves a sonic journey of archival isiXhosa field recordings, jazz influences and West African music. Thandiswa collaborated with Meshell Ndegeocello, Chris Bruce, Nduduzo Makhathini and pianist Thandi Ntuli on some of the tracks.

Simphiwe Dana

Simphiwe Dana, fondly called the modern day Mama Africa, is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and record producer from South Africa. She’s also known for her advocacy for Afrofeminism. Simphiwe Dana began her music career in church based on her religious background but got her big break with the release of her debut album, “Zandisile.”

She has released several other works and has received numerous awards and accolades. Her music style ventures through jazz, Afro-soul and traditional music genres.

Makhadzi

Makhadzi, born Ndivhudzannyi Ralivhona, shot to fame with her single “Tshanda Vhuya” which gained significant local attention in 2017 and has since delivered a string of hit songs. Her eighth studio album, “Matorokisi,” debuted at number two in South Africa in 2019 followed by “Kokovha,” which achieved tremendous success. Kokovha reached the number one spot on the South African iTunes album charts.

Ziza Muftic

Ziza Muftic is a Johannesburg-based jazz musician and composer with roots in Zagreb, Croatia. Her musical upbringing started as a Western classical violin player, then a classical singer. Today, her main form of expression lies in jazz vocals, composition and music education.
Ziza’s vocal range spans jazz to Western classical repertoire with a unique mix of Balkan and Eastern European folk songs with the American and South African jazz styles. Ziza sings in many different languages, English, Croatian, Hungarian, Portuguese, Xhosa and Zulu. She will perform a special selection of songs from her multiple albums.

ChubbyCheeks

Newcomer ChubbyCheeks, also known as Mbali Buthelezi, continues to dominate TikTok thanks to her song, Kuyabongwa. “The chorus of Kuyabongwa is a song that is usually sung in traditional ceremonies,’ says ChubbyCheeks in an interview with Sunday World. “So, I did a cover of the song and posted it on TikTok, and people really loved it. I then decided to make it a whole song.” Music fans can look forward to popular and rarely heard tracks from the artist’s releases.

How to book tickets

BYO drinks are not allowed at the concert, food and drink can be ordered from the various bars and stalls at the concert. Guests are however welcome to pack their own picnic baskets and blankets.

Cost: R350pp to R1200pp, book via Webtickets