On the evening of 20 June, an orchestra and a choir take the stage of the Wits Great Hall for one purpose. To give Tiyo Soga his place back in the continental memory. Minister, translator, journalist, hymn writer. The first Black South African ordained into Christian ministry, and one of the earliest voices of the tradition we now call the African Renaissance. His music has carried for nearly two centuries, mostly in church pews. For one night it returns to the concert stage, curated by Mandisi Dyantyis, and conducted by Kutlwano Masote. A Commemorative Concert in Honour of Tiyo Soga, presented by the Thabo Mbeki Foundation and Classics on Turf. Made possible by Wiphold and supported by SAfm. Tickets are on sale now at Webtickets. webtickets.co.za/v2/event.as… @dmandisi @kumasote

On Tuesday, 26 May 2026, President Mbeki visited Rosebank Methodist Church to see @dmandisi in rehearsal for the "Honouring Tiyo Soga" concert. This historic tribute at the Wits Great Hall will feature several fully orchestrated hymns, celebrating the first Black South African ordained minister. 20 June 2026 | Wits Great Hall | 19:00 Presented by @TMFoundation_ & Classics on Turf. Supported by Wiphold & @SAfmRadio. #TiyoSoga #AfricanRenaissance #MandisiDyantyis

JUNE 11: South Africa fans show their support during the Opening Ceremony ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Credit: Clive Mason

At one of the Progress Meeting on the construction of the #ThaboMbekiPresidentialCentre, one of President Mbeki's recurring questions was simple but profound: What will happen to all the trees we are uprooting? It was a reminder that development and environmental stewardship must go hand in hand. Progress cannot come at the expense of the natural world that sustains us. This is why the visit to Kirstenbosch carried such significance. Beyond its breathtaking beauty, it reflected a lifelong appreciation for nature, biodiversity, and the responsibility we all share to protect our planet for future generations.

As we walk down memory lane and reflect on an inspiring #AfricaDay2026 week of dialogue, ideas, culture, and connection, we are reminded that none of this work is possible without the generous support of our partners and sponsors. Thank you for believing in the power of conversation, and the importance of creating spaces where leaders, thinkers, artists, young people, and communities can come together to imagine a better future for our continent. Every panel discussion, every lecture, every performance, every exchange of ideas, and every moment of reflection was made possible because of your partnership. Development is built through collaboration, shared purpose, and a collective commitment to the ideals of the African Renaissance. @ClinixHealthSA @unisa @ParliamentofRSA @SIBSTILL @NEPAD_Agency

Have you tuned into the @AfriRenPodcast yet? We kicked off the month with John Kani in a thought-provoking conversation on the arts, Hollywood, and the future of African storytelling. It was a fitting start to what promises to be a month dedicated to culture, creativity, and the enduring power of our stories. As we continue the celebrations, we invite you to join us for a special commemorative concert honouring Tiyo Soga, while also celebrating the 84th birthday of our patron, President Thabo Mbeki. Get your tickets and be part of an evening that celebrates our heritage, our music, and the rich legacy of African thought and expression: webtickets.co.za/v2/event.as…

It is with sadness to advise of the passing of Dr Fezeka Mabona, the youngest Sister to our Patron. Let’s keep the Mabona and Mbeki families in our thoughts and prayers.

“Write the essay your grandchildren will need. Record the song that will outlast you. Endow the chair. Fund the residency. Donate the archive your mother left in a box in the garage. When its doors open in 2028, the TMPC will be one of the places where this work is gathered and transformed into something the continent can use to catalyse the African Renaissance. We will need many more such institutions, in dialogue with one another, building the continental conversation that no single institution can sustain on its own.” — Lukhanyo Neer, COO, Thabo Mbeki Foundation As we mark Youth Month, our focus turns to culture, the arts, and music as vital contributions to our collective granary of knowledge and memory. The African Renaissance is not only shaped by policy and economics; it is also carried in songs, stories, archives, performances, and works of art. By creating, preserving, and sharing these cultural treasures, we ensure that the voices, experiences, and aspirations of our people remain part of the continent's evolving narrative. webtickets.co.za/v2/event.as… @dmandisi @kumasote

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A recurring theme throughout #AfricaDay2026 week was the role of young people. How do we ensure that youth participation is meaningful and not symbolic? How do we prepare the next generation to advance the vision of the African Renaissance? It is Youth Month and these questions remain as important as ever. As we celebrate the life and legacy of our Patron, President Thabo Mbeki, we recognise the vital role of arts and culture in preserving our heritage and identity. Young people are often at the forefront of the creative industries, drawing from African traditions and cultures while reimagining them for a new generation. This year's concert honours Tiyo Soga, whose translations of hymns into isiXhosa helped affirm African language, culture, and identity within spiritual life. Music has long been the soundtrack to our liberation, uniting people, sustaining movements, and telling our stories. Join us for an evening of music, reflection, and celebration. Get your tickets today: webtickets.co.za/v2/event.as…

Tiyo Soga's legacy remains significant because he navigated both African and European worlds while insisting on the humanity, intellect, and agency of African people during a period of intense colonial expansion. His influence can be traced through later generations of South African thinkers and leaders, including figures associated with the African nationalist tradition, and the vision of an African Renaissance championed by President Thabo Mbeki. That is why a concert celebrating his life is particularly fitting for the Thabo Mbeki Foundation. Soga's work was not only spiritual and literary; it was also a profound intellectual project aimed at affirming African dignity and demonstrating that Africans could define their own future. Get your tickets here: webtickets.co.za/v2/event.as…

Tribute to Tiyo Soga The concert is a collaboration between the Thabo Mbeki Foundation and Classics on Turf, marking the occasion of the former President’s 84th birthday. The name Tiyo Soga resonates most strongly with his contribution to the canon of Christian hymns in isiXhosa, most notably Lizalis’ idinga lakho, the ‘unofficial’ anthem of resistance to colonial oppression. Johannesburg will be treated to the artistry of Mandisi Dyantyis with a choir and full orchestra, tastefully re-interpreting hymns that have been a part of our South African consciousness for well over a century. webtickets.co.za/v2/event.as…

What writers, artists, musicians and ordinary Africans produce is sacred for the continent, writes Lukhanyo Neer sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/…

Sinesipho esikhulu Esisiphiweyo thina; Sisiphiwe ngu Yehova Eso sipho esinaso.

The Last Serious African Mediation? Reflections on and lessons from the AUHIP Experience and the Meaning of African Political Agency by Abdul Mohammed amaniafrica-et.org/the-last-…

As we reflect on the conversations and engagements that marked #AfricaDay2026, the questions that shaped our discussions remain as urgent as ever. As NEPAD marks 25 years, how do we draw on its experiences to build stronger, more responsive institutions for the future? How do we ensure that the private sector is not merely an observer, but an active partner in Africa's development, investing in and supporting the programmes and projects that will propel the continent forward? We reflected on how we can protect our democracies and constitutions, ensuring they serve not only as legal frameworks, but as instruments for social impact, dignity, and shared prosperity for South Africans and Africans across the continent. A recurring theme throughout the week was the role of young people. How do we ensure that youth participation is meaningful and not symbolic? How do we prepare the next generation to take up the baton of Pan-Africanism and advance the vision of the African Renaissance? The #AfricaDay2026 events may have come to an end, but the conversations continue. More importantly, the work continues. Join our mailing list to stay connected: mbeki.us21.list-manage.com/s… @NEPAD_Agency @ParliamentofRSA @unisa

#AfricanRenaissancePodcast On xenophobia and the Third Force: Ndlozi: A funded, organized anti immigrant movement has taken root. T-shirts, a logo, a leadership. What is your reading of what we have become? Kani: I want you to forget that I’m an artist. Ask the elder, uTatu John Kani, 82 years old. You asked the question because I’m a citizen. What we’re missing is that the process of destabilization started in 1994. Remember the Khumalo, the Third Force, we really thought the Zulus were fighting the Xhosas. We really believed that. But there was a Third Force that goes in there with the colors and the manifesto of our parties, to ferment violence against each other. The only way to divide South Africa is to divide the people politically. So sometimes we get hung up and really kill each other on issues that have nothing to do with us being African. This xenophobia is something we were given.