Abdullah Ibrahim (formerly known as Dollar Brand) is one of South Africa’s most important jazz musicians, embodying the deep spiritual and political essence of township jazz. Born in 1934 in Cape Town, he grew up surrounded by the rich musical traditions of the city’s diverse communities, including African choral music, Malay and Indian influences, gospel, and American jazz.
Township jazz, which evolved in South Africa under apartheid, became a unique and powerful genre blending traditional African rhythms, gospel harmonies, and the Big Band energy of swing and bebop. It was both a celebration of cultural resilience and a protest against oppression, reflecting the struggles and hopes of Black South Africans. Ibrahim’s early recordings with The Jazz Epistle – a pioneering group that included Hugh Masekela – captured the joyous yet defiant energy of this music.
Abdullah Ibrahim’s music stands as a testament to the power of jazz as a force for liberation, resilience, and cultural pride. Whether through the township grooves of Mannenberg, the avant-garde collaborations of his exile years, or his introspective solo piano work, he has woven together celebration and protest in a way that remains deeply relevant today. His legacy is that of a storyteller who carries the spirit of South Africa in every note he plays.
This summer, our tribute led by pianist Pete Letanka comes to the Lush Life stage at We Out Here, at 12 noon on Saturday 16 August.