Historic Jazz Tribute Marks Kippie Moeketsi's Centenary

Historic Kippie Moeketsi’s photoshoot and jam session brings together generations of South African jazz musicians to honour the father of modern South African jazz

JOHANNESBURG, 15 September 2025 – There’s a saying that a picture tells a thousand words, but on Saturday, 20 September, at the iconic Market Theatre Precinct in Newtown, a photograph will frame more than a thousand notes. About a hundred of South Africa’s finest jazz musicians, from seasoned veterans to emerging youngsters, will gather for an extraordinary photoshoot and jam session in a memorial tribute to Jeremiah “Kippie” Morolong Moeketsi – a pioneering figure who shaped the very soul of South African jazz.

The event marks the centenary of Kippie Moeketsi’s birth on 27 July 1925 in George Goch, Johannesburg, where a young boy who preferred truancy to attending school would grow up to become one of the most influential musicians in South African history. His mother’s frustrated calls of “kippie-kippie-kippie” whilst searching for her wayward son amongst the mine dumps would give him a nickname that would echo through jazz history for decades to come.

The Soul of South African Jazz

Often referred to as “the father of South African jazz” and “South Africa’s Charlie Parker”, Kippie Moeketsi was more than just a saxophonist – he was a musical alchemist who transformed the sounds of his time into something uniquely South African. Born into a musical family where his father served as a church organist and his mother sang, Kippie was the youngest of a remarkable brood where all but four of his siblings played instruments.

Unlike his studious brothers, school bored young Kippie Moeketsi, and he would regularly go truant, caddying for local golfers and getting up to minor mischief. His brother Lapis gifted him a clarinet, and it was on this instrument that Kippie discovered his profound fascination with music. There were plenty of music books in the Moeketsi home, and from these he mainly taught himself, often practising through the night and provoking angry complaints from neighbours.

**Kippie Moeketsi having a smoke. Picture. by Mike Mzileni**

Starting his career at age 20 with the Band in Blue, playing in shebeens and for township audiences, Kippie Moeketsi’s journey would take him through legendary bands including the Shantytown Sextet, the Harlem Swingsters, and most famously, the Jazz Epistles. He played with and influenced some of South Africa’s most outstanding musicians, including Jonas Gwangwa, Abdullah Ibrahim, Miriam Makeba, and Hugh Masekela. Moeketsi claimed he taught Ibrahim everything he knew about music, whilst Ibrahim credited Moeketsi with introducing him to the music of Thelonious Monk.

His career spanned from early kwela music through to participation in South Africa’s first LP by Black musicians, “Jazz Epistles Verse One”, the groundbreaking “King Kong” musical, and more than 50 recordings that would cement his legacy. He placed his musical explorations on a firm foundation of marabi, the way American beboppers built upon the blues, creating something uniquely South African.

A Lasting Musical Legacy

Kippie Moeketsi’s influence extends far beyond his recordings. As a mentor and teacher, he shaped generations of South African musicians, with his fluid, gravity-defying runs and mastery of space and dynamics creating a distinctive sound that combined the clarinet’s fluidity with the saxophone’s power. His innovations in blending traditional South African marabi rhythms with modern jazz harmonies created a template that continues to inspire musicians today.

The impact of his mentorship is immeasurable – he introduced Abdullah Ibrahim to the music of Thelonious Monk and taught countless musicians the intricacies of jazz performance. His compositions and arrangements became part of the standard South African jazz repertoire, whilst his approach to improvisation influenced an entire generation of musicians who went on to achieve international acclaim.

Even in death, on 27 April 1983, Kippie Moeketsi’s spirit lives on through the famous Kippies Jazz Club in Newtown, named in his honour, which continues to nurture new talent. His recorded legacy, recently reissued by independent labels, reveals a player whose technical brilliance and emotional depth remain as compelling today as they were decades ago.

A New Day in Newtown

Now, to honour this towering legacy in the year of Kippie Moeketsi’s centenary, internationally acclaimed photographer Siphiwe Mhlambi is orchestrating a tribute that echoes Art Kane’s legendary 1958 “A Great Day in Harlem” photograph. The historic gathering will take place around Kippie’s statue at the Market Theatre Precinct, with saxophonist and composer Khaya Mahlangu serving as music director.

“In 1958, American photographer Art Kane assembled more than 50 jazz musicians in Harlem for an iconic image that captured the American jazz community of that era – everybody from Dizzy Gillespie to Thelonious Monk,” explains Mhlambi. “I hope our photoshoot for Kippie won’t only be a fitting tribute to a towering musical presence but will create a similarly iconic image of our jazz landscape today – the seasoned veterans and the youngsters, men and women, who are shaping the unique sounds of today’s South African jazz.”

The organising team includes veteran broadcaster Nothemba Madumo, host of Jazz & Beyond on Radio 702 and CapeTalk, whose company 4EverJazz has dedicated itself to promoting jazz music and culture and preserving its legacy. The Market Theatre Foundation, custodian of the building that once housed the famous Kippies Jazz Club, has generously partnered to make this centenary celebration possible.

“As the custodian of a site that once pulsed with Kippie Moeketsi’s spirit, the Market Theatre Foundation is honoured to partner on this centenary event that brings together generations of South African jazz musicians in tribute,” says Artistic Director Greg Homann. “This special gathering is a reminder of jazz as a communal language – one that acknowledges a legacy left behind and one that continues to inspire.”

Legacy in Action

To preserve Kippie Moeketsi’s legacy and the significance of this iconic photograph, the team will produce merchandise for sale, with proceeds supporting the Johnny Mekoa School of Music, providing instruments and tutors for music students. The photoshoot runs from midday until mid-afternoon, followed by a jazz icons photo exhibition and jam session at the Market Theatre from 3 pm to 5pm, focusing on Kippie Moeketsi’s compositions and repertoire.

The dress code reflects the era that shaped Kippie’s early career – 1950s Sophiatown style, harking back to that vibrant, multicultural neighbourhood where people of different races and cultures lived in harmony and where South African jazz found its voice.

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