Ngeke! Festival uses live music to challenge everyday corruption in South Africa, bringing artists and audiences together to say “Ngeke!” (isiZulu for “never”) to corruption.
Now in its second year, the EU supported festival follows a 2025 debut that drew more than 600 people to Constitution Hill. Its rallying cry is “Say Ngeke!” In isiZulu, ngeke means “never,” and this year’s artists are saying no to corruption. Ngeke! puts the fight back in ordinary hands and uses music to power the message.
This year's line-up includes Afro-pop singer Nomfundo Moh, performance collective The Brother Moves On, Xtreem Makhayeni and more, alongside emerging artists recognised through Fair Play South Africa, a global music initiative amplifying young voices against corruption.
The festival once again partners with Corruption Watch, a social justice anti-corruption organisation advocating for clean governance, accountability and transparency. Corruption Watch this year launched its Impempe Campaign that calls on all South Africans to blow the whistle on corruption.