Mandisi Dyantyis with AFROSPACE Interchange– Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2026

Mandisi Dyantyis is a vocalist, trumpeter and composer whose powerful blend of jazz, soul and South African musical traditions has captivated audiences across the globe. A multi-award-winning artist, Dyantyis has headlined major festivals, sold out every major venue in South Africa, and earned widespread acclaim for Cwaka — winner of Best Adult Contemporary Album at the South African Music Awards. For this special Melbourne International Jazz Festival performance, Dyantyis premieres a new collaboration with Melbourne collective Afrospace Interchange, a group dedicated to celebrating the rich tradition of South African jazz. Led by legendary drummer Brian Abrahams (Sarah Vaughan, Abdullah Ibrahim, Archie Shepp), Afrospace Interchange has built a vibrant cultural exchange between Australian and South African music scenes through acclaimed performances across Melbourne, bringing the joy, groove and spirit of this music to new audiences.