SA: Jazz legend Johnny Mekoa to give second SAMRO Icon’s Talk

The talk and networking session will be presented by the 2015 ACT Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for Arts Advocacy recipient, Dr. Ramakgobotla Johnny Mekoa. Last year’s talk was presented by Caiphus Semenya, an acclaimed composer and musician.

The jazz legend’s talk, structured around the re-birth of music traditions that were destroyed by the apartheid regime, will focus on how township big bands (which are now referred to as Jazz Bands) are spaces young black musicians can learn to play musical instruments.

The Icon’s Talk is open only to current SAMRO members and will accommodate members outside of Johannesburg through a video that will be shared on SAMRO’s and ACT’s social media pages where people will be invited to direct questions to Dr. Mekoa.

The RSVP deadline is on 13 February 2017 and space is limited to 40 SAMRO members. Only members who have confirmed their attendance and are on a list will be permitted to attend the talk.

Affectionately known as Johnny Mekoa, the legendary trumpeter and music educator developed a passion for jazz music at an early age and aspired to become a jazz musician. In 1964, he tried to enroll for a course in music but was turned away because of his race. He held on to his dream and today is a renowned musician and arts educator.

In the early years of his career, he played for audiences at night clubs across Johannesburg, including in Sophiatown. His ambition to study music only materialised when he was 41 and in 1991 he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music at the University of Natal. He then obtained a Fulbright Scholarship to study for a Master’s degree in Music at the University of Indiana in the United States.

In 1994, Mekoa returned to South Africa and established the Music Academy of Gauteng, which focuses on developing young aspiring Jazz musicians. It has become a centre of jazz excellence, with alumni such as Malcolm Jiyane, Mthunzi Mvubu, Mpho Mabogoane, Nthabiseng Mokoena and Linda Tshabalala.

Click here to RSVP ahead of the second Icon’s Talk. To become a SAMRO member, please click here. For more information about the event please email Karabo Legoabe at the Arts & Culture Trust at projects@act.org.za.