Bra Hugh is with us: A soul-stirring tribute to Masekela at Joburg Theatre

Johannesburg is currently breathing the rhythm of a legend. From 9 to 12 April 2026, the Joburg Theatre has become a sanctuary for the spirit of Hugh Masekela.

This four-day concert series is not just a tribute; it is a meticulously crafted explosion of heritage and soul designed to honour a freedom fighter who changed the global landscape of jazz.

Under the musical direction of Sydney Mavundla, the production attempts the nearly impossible task of replicating the singular magic of "Bra Hugh."

For Mavundla, a master trumpeter in his own right, capturing the essence of Masekela is a daunting physical and mental feat.

The production utilises a full big band to generate the sheer sonic power that Masekela often produced with far fewer players. Mavundla explains the weight of this responsibility:

“It's quite a difficult one. In terms of addressing this, I normally say it's a big band trying to capture what Bra Hugh did, what he did by himself and his four-piece band, basically. So basically, it's all of us trying to make what one man did. So it's quite a difficult thing. I mean, if you look at songs like Motlalepula and how fast the thing is, and you look at the early works of Bra Hugh, it's a very challenging.”

Because the trumpet is the lead voice, Mavundla treats the performance less like a cover and more like a sacred decoding of Masekela’s specific phrasing.

He emphasises that the goal is to make the audience feel the legend’s presence through the very notes being played.

“The lead voice of the trumpet. It's not an easy one. It's a very difficult one because, you know, it's more like a transcription. So one thing I've emphasised, and I tried to do, is to get the trumpet players to code the lines Bra Hugh played, even the solos he played.”

Hugh Masekela was never a static artist; he was a collaborator who constantly reinvented his own work. Recognising this, Mavundla and director James Ngcobo have avoided sticking strictly to original studio arrangements, which would go against the maestro’s versatile nature. Mavundla describes the dilemma of choosing which version of a song to bring to the stage:

“It's highly impossible. Bra Hugh recorded one song, not once, and performed it not even once, and the arrangements were never the same. Hence, we have a problem. We had a problem in terms of choosing which one we're going to use. So basically, it's between the original and anything else that we are trying to do. But the truth is, it's highly impossible to say we're going to stick to a certain arrangement, because another thing we're dealing with is different generations,” said Mavundla to Eyewitness News.

The stage is ignited by a lineup of artists who don’t just perform—they pay back a debt of inspiration. Vusi Mahlasela, known as "The Voice," brings his storytelling spirit and unwavering commitment to justice, while the Queen of Afro-Jazz, Judith Sephuma, provides a sophisticated power born from her personal history of collaborating with Bra Hugh.

The contemporary grace of Zoe Modiga reinterprets timeless classics with a depth that bridges the gap between legends and the avant-garde. Internationally celebrated Afro-pop star Tresor injects a vibrant, cross-continental energy that reflects Masekela’s Pan-African mission. Accompanied by the rhythmic flair of the Baobab Sisters and iComplete, the production ensures that Africa’s stories are sung boldly.

The experience begins the moment fans enter the foyer, where they can see Masekela’s legendary horn and explore archival imagery. This is more than a concert; it is a celebration of the enduring power of music to unite and inspire, proving that in every note played this weekend, Bra Hugh remains with us.