LUSIKISIKI – Jamakazi Bazana, a multi-award-winning artist, vocalist, poet and dancer from Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape, participated in the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX) 2026.
She said the opportunity was deeply meaningful because it represented growth, new possibilities and the courage to take her artistic journey beyond familiar boundaries.
She described herself as a dynamic “fusion of arts”, seamlessly blending opera, Afro jazz, gospel, poetry and dance into a powerful cultural experience rooted in her Mpondo heritage.
Her soaring voice and vibrant performances have moved audiences across South Africa and on international stages, spanning Eswatini, Lesotho and Zimbabwe. She is managed by Pacho Production Management.
Bazana said that professionally, the event opened a new chapter in her journey, allowing her to engage with different artistic perspectives, learn from international practitioners and explore opportunities for collaboration.
“As an artist, I believe that exposure to different cultures and creative environments broadens one’s artistic voice. I look forward to embracing this experience, building meaningful connections and bringing back valuable insights that can contribute to the growth of my work and the broader South African arts sector. It is both an honour and a responsibility.
Representing South Africans means carrying more than my individual artistic identity; it means contributing to the visibility of our country’s rich cultural diversity, creativity and artistic excellence,” she said.
She added that South Africa had a wealth of stories, traditions, languages and artistic expressions that deserved to be shared with the world. Bazana said she saw the opportunity as a platform to contribute to that visibility, engage in cross-cultural dialogue and demonstrate that South African artists had a meaningful place in the global creative landscape.
“My participation in Hong Kong was made possible by the organisation that invited me and covered my travel expenses. I am grateful for the invitation and the support, which enabled me to participate in this international platform and represent South African talent on the global stage.
This is not my first time travelling outside South Africa for my artistic work. I have previously had opportunities to engage beyond our national borders, the African continent in particular. However, this is my first time travelling beyond Africa to participate in an international arts platform,” she said.
She said this made HKPAX 2026 a particularly significant milestone in her journey, as it presented an opportunity to engage with a broader international arts community, exchange experiences with practitioners from different cultural backgrounds and explore new possibilities for the development and international visibility of her work.
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