A guide to finding your joy

Lovers of jazz, your time is now. The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival is back with the 2025 edition of the biggest jazz festival on the continent.

- By S'bo Gyre

The showpiece event spans three days from 26 to 28 September, and the organisers have curated four stages for festivalgoers to enjoy. Here is your stage-by-stage guide to the festival that will feature more than 60 musicians from 15 countries and three continents.

DINALEDI STAGE

This is where you want to be if you want the crème de la crème of jazz mastery. It boasts international acts such as US multi-Grammy-winning bassist and composer Esperanza Spalding (Sunday), and compatriot Lakecia Benjamin (Saturday) is set to excite alto sax enthusiasts when she graces the stage.

Singer-songwriter Nomfundo Xaluva and Tshepo Mngoma will present Strings with Soul on Saturday, and visionary saxophonist Steve Dyer's Vision of Ubuntu, featuring the Amazwi8 Choir, is sure to be a memorable moment in the closing stages of the festival on Sunday.

DIPHALA STAGE