Chills guaranteed! Abdullah Ibrahim to grace the CTIJF 2026 stage for historic performance

Abdullah Ibrahim is set for one of the most anticipated performances at CTIJF 2026. Few musicians have shaped the sound and soul of South African jazz quite likeAbdullah Ibrahim. This March, the 91-year-old pianist and composer will return to the stage at theCape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF), performing on March 27 to 28, as part of the festival’s highly anticipated 2026 edition.

For audiences, his appearance is a rare opportunity to witness one of the great living architects of modern jazz, an artist whose music has travelled across continents while remaining deeply rooted in the rhythms and stories of home. The Mother City’s very own Ibrahim was born in District Six on October 9, 1934 Over six decades, he would transform those early influences into a musical language that blends Cape jazz traditions, gospel undertones, African musical idioms and the improvisational spirit of global jazz. In 1958, he formed the Dollar Brand Trio and, a year later, co-founded The Jazz Epistles alongside fellow luminaries includingHugh Masekela, Kippie Moeketsi and Jonas Gwangwa.