History and heritage will meet in the Cape Winelands as the Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek (MJFSA) – the first-ever Montreux Jazz Festival (MJF) on African soil – revealed the poster that will define its identity for 2026: a work by South African master artist Sam Nhlengethwa.
Continuing the nearly 60-year-old MJF tradition of pairing art and music, the Franschhoek festival organisers collaborated with Elana Brundyn, one of South Africa’s most respected cultural leaders, known for her work in building museums, shaping collections and redefining how art engages with society across the African continent.
Brundyn invited a select group of South African artists, each chosen for their distinctive voice, to interpret the spirit of the upcoming festival and the global MJF brand.
“Sam has painted our musicians, our people and our joy for decades,” said Brundyn. “His deep connection to jazz, and his instinctive understanding of how sound becomes emotion, made him the natural choice for this historic first.”
A lifelong jazz devotee, Nhlengethwa’s visual language has long celebrated SA’s musical heritage, paying tribute to icons such as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, and Miles Davis. His poster for MJFSA – painted over a decade ago – features jazz great Charles Mingus and, as he puts it, “It’s as if Mingus was waiting for Montreux to come to Africa”.
In a recent interview, Nhlengethwa reflected on his creative journey and the humility instilled in him by his grandmother, who raised him in Payneville. “She always said, ‘Learn, don’t lean.’ That shaped me,” he shared.
“And my brother, a jazz musician, taught me that sound and feeling are one. Jazz became my oxygen – it’s what keeps me alive creatively.”
Over his four-decade career, Nhlengethwa has built an international reputation for work that hums with rhythm and humanity. From designing the set for the historic 1994 televised debate between Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk to exhibiting at major art fairs across the globe, he continues to create from a place of authenticity.
“I’m humbled that my work can represent this moment – when Montreux finally meets in Africa,” said Nhlengethwa.
Founder of MJFSA Mark Goedvolk said: “This first MJF on African soil is a statement of confidence in who we are as a creative continent. Sam’s poster captures the warmth, rhythm and sophistication that defines that. It reminds us that our stories, told through music and art, belong on the world stage.”
• The MJF Franschhoek will debut in the Franschhoek Valley from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 March, uniting world-class musicians and artists in a boutique setting.
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