Library Jams 2025

Library Jams returns in 2025 with a bold line-up that showcases some of South Africa’s most exciting and original voices in contemporary music. This year’s programme features the award-winning vocalist and cultural custodian Zawadi Yamungu, the experimental and genre-defying collective Babble Hume, and the high-energy trio The Cooligans. Together, these artists promise an evening of music that blends tradition, innovation, and unstoppable energy.

Library Jams has become a platform for South Africa’s most dynamic performers, joining past alumni such as Zoë Modiga, Zaki Ibrahim, Urban Village, and Kujenga. The 2025 edition continues this legacy by spotlighting artists who are not only redefining sound but also reshaping the future of live performance.

Zawadi Yamungu Nkosingiphile Mpanza, better known by her evocative stage name Zawadi Yamungu, is a vocalist, composer and instrumentalist whose artistry speaks directly to the soul. Hailing from Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal, Zawadi has established herself as a trailblazer in contemporary African music, infusing her work with the timeless echoes of tradition. She describes her voice not merely as sound, but as a bridge connecting ancestors, future generations and the healing power of unity.

Her music blends ancestral instruments such as the umakhweyana bow and ugubhu with the vibrant textures of Afro-jazz, soul and electronic fusion, creating a sonic landscape that invites listeners to reconnect with cultural identity while fostering healing and celebration. In June 2025 she released her debut album Ngimuhle (“I’m Beautiful”), an 11-track exploration of African beauty, resilience and pride. The album includes a moving rendition of Princess Magogo’s Ngithethelele, recorded with the royal family’s blessing, affirming her role as both innovator and cultural custodian.

Babble Hume Babble Hume is a South African collective formed in 2024 by three vocalists and two producers. Known for their experimental sound and fearless creativity, they blur the lines between genres while infusing their performances with raw emotion and intimacy. Their live shows thrive on improvisation, weaving storytelling, vocal layering and electronic textures into a soundscape that feels both immediate and otherworldly.

With growing recognition in South Africa’s underground music scene, Babble Hume is carving out a reputation as a group that pushes boundaries, surprises audiences and redefines the possibilities of collaboration on stage.

The Cooligans Formed in Johannesburg in 2019, The Cooligans are a genre-bending trio with a decade of live performance experience. Their debut EP Death of the Genre Pt. 1 (2022) set out their manifesto, fusing afrobeats, kwaito, experimental rock and jazz into groove-rich tracks such as Umkathi, Tink O’ Somting and 00:00 Midnight.

Known for their explosive stage presence, The Cooligans seamlessly blend digital and analog instruments like drums, synths, keys, bass and percussion with their distinct vocal style. They channel a philosophy of freedom, creativity and unity, reminding audiences of music’s power to connect collective consciousness and universal love.

About Library Jams The Goethe Library Jams (LibraryJams) is one of Johannesburg’s most intimate and innovative music experiences, dedicated to showcasing the diversity and creativity of South Africa’s live music landscape. Hosted by the Goethe-Institut South Africa, the series provides a platform for both established and emerging artists across genres, celebrating the richness of the country’s musical voices. Inspired by NPR’s famed Tiny Desk Concerts, Library Jams transforms the Goethe-Institut Library into a stage for live performances and recordings, bringing audiences closer to the music in an unforgettable setting. Each concert is recorded and later released as a digital video series, ensuring the magic of the live performance resonates far beyond the library walls.