Jazz vocalist and educator Zoe The Seed will present “Stories from the South” at University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Centre for Jazz and Popular Music on Wednesday 07 October. She will deliver an evocative evening of music, storytelling and cultural memory. Her music is rooted in the rich traditions of South African Jazz. “Stories from the South” explores the diverse cultures, languages and experiences that shape life in Southern Africa.

The performance draws on Swati and Zulu cultural narratives, contemporary Jazz and original compositions to tell stories of identity, heritage, love, resilience and community. The project also confronts urgent social realities, including gender-based violence, using music as a space for reflection, resilience and humanity that continue to bind communities together.

Zoe The Seed. Picture supplied

For Zoe The Seed, the project is about more than performing music. It is about creating a living conversation between tradition and contemporary life, while celebrating the stories that make South African experience both complex and deeply rooted. She will be joined by a dynamic ensemble featuring pianist Zibusiso Makhathini, bassist Senzo Mdamba, drummer Sibahle Mkhize, saxophonist Leon Scharnick and trombonist Siyalo Zulu.

“Stories from the South” promises an intimate and thought-provoking journey through sounds, memories and experiences of the region. The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music is located at Level 2, Dennis Shepstone Building, Howard College Campus. Tickets are available through Webtickets or at the door. They are selling at R130 for general public, R100 for pensioners and R70 for students with a valid card. Doors open at 17h00 and the concert starts at 17h30.