The City of Johannesburg hosted the 9th Indigenous Gospel Festival at the weekend. The festival is a vibrant and soul-stirring tribute to South Africa’s unique heritage, spotlighting the powerful acappella traditions of AmaZion and Clap & Tap music.
Launched in 2017, the festival has grown into a cornerstone event of the City’s cultural calendar, forming a key part of the 33rd-anniversary programme of the iconic Arts Alive. It champions a genre revered across generations, seamlessly weaving deep spiritual faith with rich cultural expression.
Saturday and Sunday came alive at the iconic Soweto Theatre in Jabulani, Soweto, as choirs took to the stage and delivered their praise songs, putting the audience in a trance.
Director of the City’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Vuyisile Mshudulu said: “The ninth edition of the Joburg Indigenous Gospel Festival has demonstrated that our investment is yielding the desired results because we have witnessed a dramatic surge in the quality of performances, an exponential increase in youth participation and the expansion of participation from other provinces in South Africa.
“This festival not only preserves the authenticity of this important artform, but it also introduces innovations that are to ensure its essence is maintained.”
Participating choirs were handed certificates at the end of both events to honour and acknowledge their contribution to this vibrant genre. The 2026 festival was headlined by two giants of the genre: the acclaimed Majalefa A Morena (Clap & Tap) and the legendary The Zion Legacy (AmaZion).
Written by Maseipati Tsotsotso