By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Joburg Theatre will celebrate the extraordinary legacy of composer, musician, songwriter and one of the country’s most respected musical legends, Caiphus Semenya.
Semenya has created a body of work that has travelled across generations, borders and decades, leaving an enduring mark on the soundtrack of South Africa.
From his distinctive songwriting, compositions to his collaborations and contribution to development of South African music, Semenya’s work represents more than a collection of songs.
It is part of the country’s cultural memory, music shaped by love, identity, home, resilience and the South African experience.
From 18 to 20 September 2026, Joburg Theatre will celebrate this extraordinary legacy with CAIPHUS SEMENYA SONGBOOK, a three-day musical experience on the Joburg Theatre stage dedicated to the music and influence of one of South Africa’s most important musical voices.
Semenya’s Songbook is an opportunity to honor an artist whose contribution continues to influence South African music and the generations of artists who have followed him.
Bringing Semenya’s music to the stage will be an exceptional line-up of South African artists; Nathi, Moneoa, Amanda Black and Nokukhanya Dlamini. Each artist brings a distinctive voice, musical identity and interpretation to the production, creating a meeting point between one of South Africa’s great musical legacies and a new generation of performers.
The production is directed by acclaimed theatre-maker and Joburg City Theatres Artistic Director James Ngcobo, who brings his theatrical storytelling approach to the celebration. Ngcobo’s direction will position the music within a broader theatrical experience, exploring the relationship between song, memory, storytelling and South Africa’s cultural history.
Joining him is respected musician and composer Tshepo Mngoma as Musical Director, who will lead the musical interpretation of Semenya’s repertoire.
Mngoma’s musical direction will bring the Songbook into conversation with the contemporary voices on stage while preserving the musical character and emotional depth that have made Semenya’s work endure across generations.