From Makhanda with magic: The best of National Arts Festival 2025

As the festival celebrated its 50th milestone in 2025, we honoured not only the rich legacy of African arts but also the bold new voices shaping its future. From jazz to visual art and poetry to theatre, this year’s Standard Bank Young Artist Award winners and NAF interns delivered unforgettable performances across Makhanda’s stages and galleries.

Guests immersed themselves in thought-provoking exhibitions and engaging conversations, all while enjoying local cuisine, artisanal drinks and the vibrant atmosphere that only Makhanda in full festival mode can provide.

Recap of NAF 2025
Siya Charles, this year’s Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz, returned to her roots with a showstopping performance. From her Gqeberha beginnings to a master’s at Juilliard, Siya’s journey has been one of dedication and growth. Her performance at Thomas Pringle Hall was nothing short of electrifying.

In the world of theatre, Calvin Ratladi, director of Breakfast with Mugabe, and the cast delivered a standout performance that left audiences breathless. Staged at the Rhodes Theatre, the production offered an intense psychological deep dive, echoing the emotional weight of its subject matter. Inspired by real events, written by Fraser Grace, the play is set in the final years of Robert Mugabe’s rule in Zimbabwe. Following its successful run at the National Arts Festival, the production continued with a run at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg.

Muneyi, Standard Bank Young Artist for Music, invited us into his creative process through an intimate session entitled Sip & Cry by Muneyi, and later moved the crowd with a brilliant performance alongside award-winning jazz trumpeter Robin Fassie. We had the pleasure of witnessing Muneyi’s performance again at the Standard Bank Art Lab following his appearance at the NAF for our First Thursday edition.

Visual artist Nyakallo Maleke offered a contemplative, immersive experience through her exhibition on memory, mark-making and trusting your instincts. Her work asked us to pause, reflect and honour the quieter parts of the creative journey.

Modise Sekgothe’s bold new poetic work Gabo Legwala, mesmerised festivalgoers. With words that flowed like rhythm and silences that spoke volumes, his performance left an indelible mark on all who experienced it. His poetry proved that language, when wielded with care, can shift perception and stir the soul.

We believe that art is more than entertainment; it builds communities, preserves heritage and powers the creative economy. It gives voice to identity, ignites conversation and moves us to imagine new futures.

As the curtains fell at the NAF 2025, we celebrated the artists, the audiences and the town of Makhanda, all of which made this a festival to remember. We’re proud to stand beside South Africa’s longest-running arts festival and even prouder of the talent that continues to grow and thrive because of it.

Here’s to the next 50 years of bold voices, beautiful moments and endless creativity. For upcoming details of NAF 2026, when they’re available, and other events between now and then, follow the Standard Bank Arts Facebook page.