The Poetry & Jazz Sunset Sessions is set to return for its sixth edition at Artscape's Innovation Lounge in Cape Town. The event, organised by the Cape Cultural Collective Writers Club, will bring together spoken-word artists, vocalists, and live jazz musicians for a 90-minute celebration of African storytelling. This year's lineup includes Cape Town poet Thapelo Tharaga and singer-songwriter Enkosi Camagu, who will join fellow artists onstage.
For Enkosi Camagu, a Cape Town-based musician originally from East London, the event offers an opportunity to connect with audiences through different forms of storytelling. His music draws from soul, Afro-soul, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and sometimes amapiano, and he promises an honest and soulful performance. Camagu's music often centres on life, love, faith, and overcoming struggles, which he hopes will leave audiences with a sense of inspiration.
Event organiser and MC Vusumuzi Mpofu said the sessions were created to give different forms of artistic expression space to interact. The Poetry & Jazz Sunset Sessions is a celebration of African storytelling and cultural expression through poetry, live music, and soulful vocals. Mpofu added that the sixth edition reflects the team's continued commitment to creating spaces where artists and audiences can connect.
The event will feature spoken-word artists Lwanda Sindaphi, Steph Carolus, and Naked Soul, alongside vocalists Thami Baba and Camagu. The Mamela Band, featuring Charles Louw, Carlo Fabe, and Clayton Pretorius, will provide the live musical component. Mpofu and Isabella Schutter will host the evening, which promises to be a unique experience for audiences.
For Thapelo Tharaga, whose work centres on expression and storytelling, the event offers an opportunity to share an African perspective through poetry. He will also bring poems in languages other than English to this edition, adding another dimension to the evening's focus on African expression. Tharaga enjoys performing with musicians live, citing the synergy between the two art forms.
Beyond the performances, the event is also intended to create opportunities for local creatives. Tharaga emphasised the importance of access to spaces that allow artists to express themselves, while Mpofu noted that bringing established and emerging artists together creates opportunities for exchange, learning, and collaboration. The Cape Cultural Collective Writers Club also hosts free monthly poetry workshops at Mowbray Library.
The organisers hope audiences will leave having experienced something meaningful, with art offering an opportunity to feel, question, and listen. With its unique blend of poetry, jazz, and African storytelling, the Poetry & Jazz Sunset Sessions is set to be an unforgettable experience. The event will take place next month at Artscape's Innovation Lounge.
Key points
- The Poetry & Jazz Sunset Sessions returns for its sixth edition at Artscape's Innovation Lounge in Cape Town.
- The event features a lineup of local artists, including spoken-word artists, vocalists, and live jazz musicians.
- The event aims to create opportunities for local creatives and celebrate African storytelling and cultural expression.
