My very first trip to Johannesburg, albeit for just seven days from the 24th to the 31st of August, has meant so much to me.  I wanted this visit to be special from start to finish – and so it was!

I have always felt that there was a missing piece to a larger puzzle somewhere and indeed often at times, I have been told that I was that missing piece.  Coinciding with my experience as a London born-and bred professional jazz vocalist, I many years ago came to realise and understand that I have a deep connection on my father’s side with a prominent South African musical family, the Nkosi’s, which I longed to unravel and explore.  Born in 1954, my late father Jabu Nkosi was a prolific South African jazz pianist, composer, and producer who was also the son of the pioneering South African jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer Isaac ‘Zacks’ Nkosi.  Born in 1925, my grandfather became a jazz pioneer and leading figure of South African Jazz who fused the traditional South African marabi style of music with that of the popular American artform of jazz and swing, thus originating the phrase “Our Kind of Jazz”, and creating, composing and performing a great wealth of music as one of the most important figures during the golden age of African Jazz in the 1950s and ‘60s.

Deelee Dube. Picture by Athi Ngcaba

My father was the first and eldest born son of three brothers and three sisters, including his late youngest sister Yoko who has sadly passed on (four of his other siblings that still survive him include my uncles Soso and Themba, and aunts Didi and Nonto).  My father was fortunate to receive the guidance and nurturing in turn of his loving father, Zacks Nkosi, as a result he went on to become a highly skilled and selftrained jazz pianist who managed to intuitively grasp a natural aptitude for music harmony and technique, thus gaining much widespread respect within the South African jazz scene and community, both locally and overseas.  In addition, my father recorded with a number of record labels including Gallo, Teal and WEA, thus following a similar path to that of my grandfather (who recorded extensively for both EMI and GRC), and although celebrated, his level of acclaim, success and popularity did not quite reach the same heights to that of my grandfather’s.  However, he definitely enjoyed the fruits of his creative labour and success and indulged accordingly, sometimes even excessively!  My father was like a rolling stone, as was quite common during those times, thus I and my late twin brother, Sipo Dube, became the fruits of a beautiful and momentous chance-encounter that happened in London where he met my mother during the late 1970s while touring with the Afro-Jazz group, The Drive.

Although it has taken more than twenty years to finally realise my Jo’burg journey of discovery, my search actually began sometime between 1999 and 2001.  After completing my studies at the BRIT School of Performing Arts, I then embarked on studying for an undergraduate Music and Media degree whilst working part-time at the now defunct Tottenham Court Road Virgin Megastore in London’s West End.  By the time I had already embarked on my professional music career, performing in and around London’s live music scene, collaborating with other musicians as well as engaging in studio recording sessions.  At the same time, I was well positioned with an array of music, academic text and resources at my disposal, all of which came to great use in my research.

I took every spare moment and opportunity to pursue and explore my roots and this eventually resulted in my first chance for an in-person encounter with my ‘estranged’ paternal family while I was also exploring South Africa’s contemporary jazz scene.  In 2021, my debut album, ‘Trying Times’, received five nominations at the South African Mzantsi Jazz Awards and it subsequently won the award for Best International Jazz Collaboration.  Due to global circumstances resulting from the Covid crisis, I was unable to travel abroad but the following year whilst performing at the Green Note in Camden Town, London, an associate of the Mzantsi Jazz Awards Company kindly attended my performance to present the award in person.  It was around the same time that I managed to locate my father’s siblings through a friend of the family, Refilwe Pieterse.  She had organized a momentous event, ‘The Rise of Zacks Nkosi’, in Johannesburg’s Alexandra Township which was documented and advertised online via social media.  Through this link, I immediately gained contact and access to my father’s brother Soso, and the rest became the history that led to enabling this first journey of mine to South Africa and Johannesburg.

Members of The Drive. Jabu Nkosi is on the bottom right of the picture. Picture by Warren Ludski

I landed in Jo’burg on the night of 24th  August and met trombonist, composer, and educator Athi Ngcaba who kindly agreed to be my chaperone throughout my stay.  I was introduced to Athi through South African jazz musician and composer Adam Glasser who reached out with some kind words and praises about my recording of “Cherokee” after reading freelance writer and researcher Gwen Ansell’s brief review about my latest release in connection to my MJA nomination.  Athi had worked on several projects with Adam beginning in 2016, and in April 2023 they became trusted friends following a long road trip from Cape Town to Jo’burg visiting schools throughout South Africa.  Athi was to be my first port of call and contact, and once I had arrived at OR Tambo International Airport, we travelled straight to Melville where I would be based most of the time.

I embarked on my first engagement of the next day, a meeting with the accomplished South African journalist, broadcaster, community organizer and jazz promoter Brenda Sisane.  She was in town with a touring, American-based Japanese jazz pianist, Yayoi Ikawa, who was due to perform at a jazz club, The Untitled Basement, in Rosebank Johannesburg that evening.  It was great meeting Brenda who had worked on a number of TV productions as a presenter, one of which included a performance that my Dad was involved in. Athi and I attended Yayoi Ikawa’s performance that evening which was nothing short of spectacular!  That was preceded by an insightful Q&A and commentary presented by Brenda between Yayoi Ikawa and South African pianist, vocalist and composer Thandi Ntuli.

The next day, the Mzantsi Jazz Awards took place at the Soweto Theatre where my single recording of “Cherokee” (a jazz standard written in the 1930s by Ray Noble) received two nominations for Best Jazz Song and Best Female Jazz Artist.  There I performed with a marvellous house band that included jazz pianist and musical director Mdu Mtshali, Dalisu Ndlazi on upright bass, Enoch Marutha on drums, Mthunzi Mvubu on alto saxophone and US-based South African trumpeter and flugelhorn player, Lesedi Ntsane.  My performance went down a storm with the audience even as we performed right through a slight power cut (due to ‘loadshedding’) that thankfully didn’t affect our performance too much.  It was also great to meet and talk with jazz veteran Themba Mokoena who shared fond memories of working with my Dad and Granddad mostly on marabi style music.  He smiled as he travelled down memory lane and also mentioned working with Simphiwe Dana.  It was an honour to be in his company and although I was immediately mindful of the fact that I was standing amongst greatness, I didn’t hesitate to talk about a possible collaboration.  I told him, “I’ll definitely be back, especially for our collaboration!”, which made him blush and chuckle a little.  I really enjoyed his performance – needless to say, he definitely still knows how to play a mean blues and has great chops!  Then, as an additional treat, I decided to spend that evening at the wonderful Thabo Eco Hotel in the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, which turned out to be a delightful experience.

Doing the interview at Power FM with . Picture by Randy Tsubane

The next day was PR Sunday – a busy morning and afternoon fully packed with radio interviews and meetings.  Our first call was at ALEX FM where to my delight and surprise, my half-brother, Gabriel Campbell, who shares a distinct resemblance to my late twin brother, Sipo Dube, decided to meet and join us at the radio headquarters in Alexandra!  This was our first meeting and it felt so, so good – I was overwhelmed with heartfelt emotion as we embraced each other for the very first time and talked about our Dad and his life in Alexandra (more familiarly known as ‘Alex’) and the many people he knew.  What an incredible feeling it was!

It was also a wonderful surprise to meet South African R&B/Soul musician and guitarist Bra Condry Ziqubu (a solo artist and former member of the 1960s South African band The Anchors, who along with my father and grandfather also hails from Alex township) and who was present in the studio with SA jazz pianist Sibusiso Mashiloane.  What a great company!  Condry and I talked live on – air about my forthcoming engagements in Jo’burg and my previous night’s performance at the Mzantsi Jazz Awards and we then posed for photos.  It dawned on me several times just how long I had dreamed and manifested this very moment that I was experiencing.  Even in my Dad’s absence, his spiritual presence felt so strong and I was blessed to meet the cats who worked with him and loved him, and who he also loved in return.

Next stop was Power FM where I was interviewed by radio broadcaster Morio Sanyane, which I really enjoyed.  Again we posed for photos before we left the studio for a lunch break.  Once outside, to my delight and surprise, I was so happy to see South African jazz saxophonist McCoy Mrubata, who came out to meet and join us -such a happy and jubilant moment with feelings of completeness.  We spent the afternoon hanging out at a local, hip café in Melville with the sunlight shining on us while McCoy generously shared memories and stories of my Dad, one of which was about a moment when McCoy was in the recording studio with my Dad who would often crack jokes with his husky voice and lively and unforgettable witty character!  We laughed, reflected and embraced our time together, sharing stories on that perfect sunny Sunday afternoon.  It was all truly a meeting of minds and a gathering of kindred spirits – a truly blessed welcome and merging of the past and present were altogether and instantly I submitted to the fact that I had arrived.

Meeting her uncle Peter Nel and niece Amogelang Tyler Kgoadi. Picture by Athi Ngcaba

The last call of the day was at Metro FM with Nothemba Madumo.  There I was also joined with Yayoi Ikawa by telephone for a late evening radio interview which was fun and a perfect culmination for Women’s Month.

The next day, Athi and I spent an exciting Monday afternoon exploring the Newtown Market and Mary Fitzgerald Square.  I took my time to absorb the atmosphere and sightings of statues, even posing with Brenda Fassie’s statue.  Then I strolled along the Jazz Walk of Fame where my Grandfather’s inscription was placed on the memorial strip amongst fellow legendary South African musical figures.  I enjoyed viewing the street art and observed Caiphus Semenya and Letta Mbulu’s image strewn across the brick walls alongside Miriam Makeba and Miles Davis.  This is where I had to just pause in my tracks and take it all in – acknowledging the Nkosi legacy with gratitude and love, and then realizing that it is now in my hands and I am now the one who is carrying the baton.

My next engagement was on the 29th of August where I was invited to dinner with Gallo Archivist Rob Allingham.  We went to a Chinese restaurant called Pron, one of Rob’s favourites in Jo’burg, and I was treated to a delicious meal.  We spent the rest of the evening at his house where he also works and I was pleasantly surprised to see his extensive record/LP collection compartmentalized in columns across the walls.  He played some blues and country on his turntable and showed me an original copy of my father’s final album, “Remembering Bra Zacks”, recorded by The City Jazz 7, which Rob produced.  We talked about life and memories of my Dad and he recalled that my father’s intention was to release another recording featuring his own original material but sadly the internal politics of the record company prevented this from materialising.  It was overall an insightful and pleasant evening, and I had a great time getting to know Rob and his record collection.  I came to understand that he is ultimately responsible for the digitization of Gallo’s extensive back catalogue, a passion that he invests much time, energy, and effort into, and for which I believe he deserves so much more recognition.

Wednesday, 30th August was family day!  We started off with an early call to visit my Grandfather, Great-grandfather and Father’s final resting places, these being Isaac Zacks Nkosi, Charlie Abraham Nkosi and Jabulani Patrick Nkosi.  It was a profoundly emotional morning filled with heartfelt prayers, meditations, reflections, traditional rituals and blessings.  Then the entire afternoon was spent visiting relatives in Alex, ending with a gathering with Uncle Soso, my half-brothers, Gabriel Campbell, Lercia Nkosi and Hancock Zaney Nel, my cousin Malcolm Nel, my six year old niece Amogelang Tyler Kgoadi and my four year old nephew Gontse Campbell as well as uncle Peter Nel (father to Hancock’s late mother Diane Pansy).  Sadly, the youngest of my halfbrothers, Bongane Zacks Nhlapo, was sorely missed, as he had passed away weeks prior to my arrival.  We also gathered together in his loving memory.

With Rob Allingham.

It was a most warm and instant connection that we all shared and the family bond was strongly felt.  Uncle Soso generously imparted memories of my Dad, particularly recalling a time when he met Miles Davis at an airport whilst en route to a renowned jazz festival.  Apparently they both missed their flights due to having had one too many drinks!  My father was known to be the life of a party and always lit up the room with his vibrant personality and witty character.  But when it came down to music-making he was the most serious and focused player in the room.

So albeit brief, for me this first journey to Johannesburg was a breaking of the ice, testing of the waters, and gathering of kindred spirits.  Although I count myself as a global citizen, I can confidently affirm that this also feels like home.  Furthermore, it all makes perfect sense and distinctly alludes to the notion of the apple not falling far from the tree.  There are my roots and I feel my ancestors smiling from on high.  I look forward to creating many more memories and collaborating with fellow South African musicians in the very future.  My return will be swift and soon.

“…Indeed Jabu would be proud.  I enjoyed your music, you are so gifted like father like daughter.  Carry on with the good work.  God bless” – Condry Ziqubu

Written by Deelee Dube and edited by Rob Allingham

Deelee Dube (whose real name is Sitandile Dube) is a London born and raised multi award winning jazz vocalist, songwriter and musician of Southern African lineage.  Her Facebook Page is Deelee Dubé.  Follow her on X @DeeleeDube and on Instagram @deeleedubemusic.  Connect with her on LinkedIn Deelee Dubé, subscribe to her YouTube channel @DeeleeDubeMusic and visit her website www.deeleedube.com Rob Allingham is a music historian, archivist, consultant, and producer for Gallo Records Company.  After completing a degree in history at the University of California, he left the USA in 1975 for South Africa to work in the (steam) railway sector, and eventually the film industry.