Ngeke! Festival returns to Johannesburg on November 7, 2026, following its inaugural edition in 2025. This is a free music festival hosted at The Nest in Johannesburg, it showcases both established and emerging South African artists, promoting a collective stand against corruption through the message “Say Ngeke!” The festival, is supported by the EU, and it aims to empower people to speak out against injustice and engage in social action.
The 2026 line-up features a diverse set of performers, including BLVQ IRIS & The Crossroads, Xtreem Makhayeni, ZANAH, The Brother Moves On, and Nomfundo Moh, with DJ Nodiggity as the host. BLVQ IRIS, led by a Cape Town rapper, combines hip-hop, jazz, and multilingual lyricism to convey socially conscious themes. ZANAH and Xtreem Makhayeni complement the line-up with their explorations of social issues through their music. The Brother Moves On brings an innovative blend of music, storytelling, and performance rooted in African traditions.
The festival also emphasizes community responsibility in combating corruption through the Ngeke! Pledge, inviting attendees to commit to active resistance against corruption, personal accountability, and collective action. The 2025 edition saw significant engagement, attracting over 600 participants and connecting local artists with the global Fair Play initiative which advocates for the amplification of young voices in the fight against corruption.
Fair Play South Africa, is part of a global initiative, that focuses on using music as a tool for social change, reaching over 10 million people since its inception in 2010. The initiative emphasizes the importance of local actions in the global fight against corruption and aims to inspire youth through their artistic expressions. The festival reinforces its mission to connect music, culture, and civic action, highlighting the unified efforts needed to build a better society.
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