Carnegie Hall

UBUNTU celebrated the dynamic and impassioned cultural life of a vibrant nation. Roughly translated as, “I am because you are,” ubuntu is a South African philosophy that emphasizes the importance of community and reflects the spirit of reconciliation and inclusion fostered by the nation’s former president, the late Nelson Mandela, to whom the festival was dedicated. The festival spotlighted a varied lineup of artists, and Carnegie Hall partnered with leading New York City cultural organizations to present concerts, film series, art exhibitions, and panel discussions about South Africa.

Two South African musical icons, trumpeter Hugh Masekela and singer Vusi Mahlasela, opened the festival by diving into the nation’s history with songs celebrating 20 years of democracy and the end of apartheid. Guest artist Dave Matthews joined the duo, and they set a joyous tone echoed by artists and audiences throughout the festival. Other festival highlights included a double-bill that featured guitarist, ethnomusicologist, and singer-songwriter David Kramer with his band and the 15-voice male choir Young Cape Malay Stars, showcasing the diversity of music from the Cape region. The Cape jazz tradition was celebrated with revered pianist and composer Abdullah Ibrahim performing a solo concert that coincided with his 80th birthday and, later in the month, the New York debut of Kesivan and the Lights, a band led by drummer Kesivan Naidoo. In their New York recital debuts, sopranos Pretty Yende and Elza van den Heever delighted with opera and song classics. There was also a fascinating fusion of film and music with Paper Music, a collaboration by Johannesburg-born visual artist William Kentridge and his South African compatriot musician Philip Miller. Throughout the festival, UBUNTU artists also participated in Weill Music Institute events, including concerts throughout New York City and a master class in the Resnick Education Wing led by Ibrahim. The festival concluded with singer Angélique Kidjo in a rousing tribute to singer and anti-apartheid activist Miriam Makeba that inspired the audience—which included Archbishop Desmond Tutu—to stand, sing, and dance along.