Pilani Bubu will facilitate the Jazz Wise Youth Music Business Workshop at the 2026 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, equipping young creatives with practical tools
Jazz Wise turns talent into enterprise, connecting young musicians with industry leaders, funders and mentors shaping South Africa’s creative economy.
The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival presents the Jazz Wise Youth Music Business Workshop on 17 September, from 09:00 to 16:30, at the Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein. The workshop gives students access to leading figures in South Africa’s music industry, with panels sharing what it takes to build a lasting career.
Standard Bank sees a strong business mindset as essential to supporting young musicians. Jazz Wise gives musicians the knowledge, skills, networks and business principles to build sustainable enterprises from their artistry, covering songwriting, A&R, recording, publishing, marketing, investment and sustainability.
The workshop will be facilitated by singer, TV presenter and creative entrepreneur Pilani Bubu, a SAMA award-winning artist and producer of the Folklore Festival, who brings experience in brand-building, budgeting, grant applications, deal-making and producing other artists.
Risk Capital for Culture — Who funds what?
The first panel at Jazz Wise brings together Violet Maila, who leads the Music in Africa Foundation’s South African operations and its Music in Africa Live tour grant programme, helping African music tour across borders; Dorine Lebreton, Deputy Director at IFAS, who leads the French Institute’s music and performing arts programmes in South Africa and oversees funding for artist residencies and Franco-African collaborations through Africa-links, Visa for Music and JazzLab; and Caroline Christgau, Project Coordinator for Music and Creative Economy at Goethe-Institut Johannesburg, who draws on a cultural management background to design programmes supporting collaboration, workshops and touring for African artists.
From Classrooms to the Global Stage — Can talent alone hold it down?
The second panel features Dr Phuti Sepuru, a jazz pianist, educator and musicologist who sees music as a tool for change and for building stronger communities; Chantal-Willie Petersen, a composer, arranger, bassist, vocalist, arts researcher and lecturer; Ziza Muftic, a Croatian-born jazz vocalist and composer based in South Africa known for her soulful voice and modern take on traditional sounds; and guitarist Vuma Levin, Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for jazz and a seasoned musician and composer.
Purpose Value Versus Industry Value — Can you stay true to your why and still get paid?
Hosted by Tumi Mogorosi, drummer, author and academic with more than a decade’s experience in the industry, this panel includes Internet Athi, a young singer-songwriter who has passed a million streams without a record label; Ndumiso Manana, musician, producer, founder of Manana Music and the 2026 Standard Bank Young Artist for Music; and Nontando Mokoena, Project Manager for the SAMPRA Development Fund at the South African Music Performance Rights Association, who administers funding and champions artist development.
Who it’s for
Jazz Wise is built for high school students, university students and young professionals, offering career support and a chance to network with industry figures. The day will also serve as an intern intake for the year.
“Empowerment is access. When young musicians and students step into spaces like Jazz Wise, they must leave with more than inspiration — they must leave with industry knowledge, real networks, and the confidence to turn talent into enterprise. Our job is to open the doors, bring the right people into the room, and ensure the next generation doesn’t just watch the industry — they lead it,” says Mantwa Chinoamadi, CEO and curator of the Joy of Jazz festival.
Standard Bank Group Head of Sponsorship Bonga Sebesho says: “Jazz Wise reflects Standard Bank’s commitment to driving Africa’s growth by investing in the next generation of creative talent. The workshop empowers young people with the knowledge, networks and entrepreneurial skills needed to navigate the music industry, grow sustainable careers from their craft, and contribute meaningfully to the future of South Africa’s creative economy.”
Event details
- Date: Thursday, 17 September 2026
- Venue: Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein
- Time: 09:00 – 16:30
The 2026 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz is more than a music festival — it’s a cultural and economic catalyst. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster:
- R1,150 – Friday/Saturday Day Pass, General Admission
- R2,250 – Weekend Pass (Friday and Saturday)
Standard Bank cardholders qualify for up to 15% discount, limited to two tickets per person, on valid Standard Bank debit, cheque or credit cards, subject to availability. Ts & Cs apply.
