Event information
The highly anticipated debut performance of Lumanyano's solo album material, Ithemba Elitsha (A New Hope), from the award-winning South African-born, New York-based drummer, composer, producer, and bandleader, Lumanyano “Mzi” Bizana.
Featuring:
Kevin Harris (US) - Ciara Moser (AT) - Jean Straus (SA) - Issac Ramagosa (SA) - Simon Manana (SA)
With special guests : Thandeka Dladla (SA) and Namisa Mdlalose (SA)
Lumanyano’s musical journey began at the tender age of six in Cape Town, when he stepped in for a missing drummer at his father’s reggae band rehearsal and ignited a lifelong passion.
Self-taught and deeply influenced by the rich tapestry of reggae, jazz, African music, and gospel, Lumanyano further honed his craft at UCT’s South African College of Music, graduating in 2017, before moving to the United States in 2021 to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where he graduated in 2024.
Lumanyano's extensive performance history has seen him share stages and studios with local and international luminaries including Larry Klien, Sona Jobarteh, Terry Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Freshly Ground, Mandisi Dyantyis, Maquis Hill, Elena Pinderhughes, Sibongile Khumalo, McCoy Mrubata, Judith Sephuma, Ruth Tafebe, Luciano, Eric Donaldson, Half Pint, Everton Blender, Nando Mitchelin, Gloria Bosman, Turbulance, Jah Mason, Tyron Downie, Drie Manskap, Micheal Bester, Cedric “Congo” Myton, N8N, Meta & The Cornerstones, and Pam Hall, amongst others.
More about the album:
Ithemba Elitsha is a rich and unique sonic tapestry that offers a profound invitation to infinite hope for humanity's future. In a world often fraught with existential angst and uncertainty, this musical offering serves as a welcome tonic. Lumanyano masterfully captures the complexities of his personal journey while reflecting on a constantly changing world seeking meaning and healing. His deft musical touch skillfully blends the old and the contemporary, paying homage to the rich heritage of South African jazz and township sounds that shaped his early influences, evoking a warm nostalgia while embracing global and contemporary sonic elements. This synthesis creates a truly special musical masterpiece, inviting listeners on a transformative voyage across space and time.
Restaurant open on site at Youngblood Africa.
