Msaki, Sjava, Mafikizolo, Nomfundo Moh And Busiswa Lead Tribute To Women 2026
A cross-generational line-up will turn Mark’s Park into a celebration of South African women, music and memory on 29 August.
Some of South Africa’s most distinctive voices will share one stage when Tribute To Women 2026 returns to Mark’s Park in Emmarentia, Johannesburg, on Saturday, 29 August.
Msaki, Sjava, Mafikizolo, Nomfundo Moh and Busiswa lead a line-up designed to move across generations and genres. The programme brings together soulful songwriting, Afro-pop, African contemporary music, house and dance, giving festivalgoers a full day of live performance while placing women’s stories at the centre of the experience.
The 2026 festival arrives during a milestone Women’s Month. This year marks 70 years since the historic Women’s March of 1956, when thousands of women marched to the Union Buildings in protest against apartheid pass laws. Tribute To Women is using music to connect that legacy of courage with the artists, entrepreneurs, families and cultural leaders shaping South Africa today.
Dr Criselda Kananda, Tribute To Women Ambassador and Chairperson of the Malibongwe Arts Festival Foundation, describes cultural heritage as a source of memory, identity and resistance. She believes live performance gives younger audiences roots and role models while allowing the stories inherited from earlier generations to remain active and relevant.
That intergenerational spirit is reflected in the line-up. Msaki’s intimate writing and unmistakable voice sit alongside Sjava’s rich storytelling. Mafikizolo brings a catalogue that has travelled across Africa for more than two decades, while Nomfundo Moh represents a new generation of South African soul. Busiswa adds the high-energy performance style that has made her one of the country’s most recognisable stage personalities.
For Kananda, the festival is not built around spectacle alone. It is intended as a space where women can celebrate, be seen and recognise the value of their own stories.
“I want women to leave with renewed pride in our resilience and creativity, and with a practical sense of possibility: that their stories matter, their talents can be nurtured into careers, and their everyday acts of courage contribute to bigger change,” she said.
The event also aims to make the anniversary more than a formal history lesson. Moments of reflection will sit alongside contemporary performances, creating a bridge between the women of 1956 and the voices carrying their spirit forward.
The festival plans to honour cultural icons, including recognition of Mildred Mangxola of the Mahotella Queens, while showcasing current performers whose work continues to expand South African music.
Mark’s Park will offer an outdoor, family-friendly setting for music lovers, families and groups of friends. Gates open at 11:00 and the event ends at 19:00. Children under five enter free.
Festivalgoers may bring camp chairs, picnic blankets and soft picnic baskets containing food. Hard cooler boxes, alcohol, liquids, tables and gazebos will not be permitted, and there will be no pass-outs while the show is in progress.
With a line-up built around both musical range and cultural meaning, Tribute To Women 2026 is positioning itself as more than another date on Johannesburg’s entertainment calendar. It is a day for audiences to sing, dance and remember while celebrating the women whose creativity and courage continue to shape the country.
Website: [https://www.tributetowomen.co.za](https://www.tributetowomen.co.za)
