MEDIA STATEMENT
UMHLOBO WENENE FM SERVES JAZZ & FLAVOUR IN ‘UNCUTHU LOMCULO WEJAZZ’ EXPERIENCE WITH ASISIPHO BURWANA
Gqeberha – Thursday, 24 July 2025 In a heartwarming collaboration that celebrates the richness and heart of isiXhosa culture, jazz, storytelling and a culinary experience, Umhlobo Wenene FM’s much-loved presenter and internationally acclaimed artist Dumza Maswana is teaming up with popular culinary and lifestyle influencer Asisipho Burwana for a deeply immersive experience titled Eziko noNcuthu loMculo weJazz on Sunday, 27 July 2025 at Nia on 31 in Cape Town from 13:00.
This infused experience is a powerful extension of Dumza Maswana’s popular Sunday show on Umhlobo Wenene FM, Uncuthu loMculo weJazz, which broadcasts from 13:00 – 15:00, where he curates thoughtful jazz content. Maswana also has a feature on the station from Monday to Thursday at 22:00, where he reads isiXhosa literature with the reverence of a cultural custodian, entitled Ufundo Lwencwadi. While Eziko is a standalone experience produced by Dumza in his personal capacity as an artist, these three entities naturally fused what he lives organically on air — offering jazz not just as music, but as a vessel for language, institutional memory, spirituality, and heritage.
In this event, Dumza brings together live jazz performances during and after broadcast, intimate isiXhosa-guided conversations with elders, and storytelling that bridges rural homesteads and modern stages. This is a return not to a location, but to identity – as Dumza puts it: “We’re going home – not to a place, but to ourselves.”
Joining him is Asisipho Burwana, a social media influencer in the food and digital content space, who brings flavour and storytelling into harmony through recipes inspired by his Eastern Cape upbringing. Known for using food as a narrative device, Asisipho will curate the menu and co-host the experience, adding a culinary layer to the ancestral jazz journey.
To build excitement around the experience, Dumza and Asisipho will appear live on the Expresso Morning Show on SABC 3 on Friday, 25 July 2025 from 06:00. Viewers can look forward to a preview of the event’s mood and flavour, featuring a sneak peek into the kitchen and a candid chat with the hosts about identity, food, music, and memory. It promises to a playful and inviting lead-up to the sophisticated event. Tickets to this intimate event have sold out.
“This collaboration is about creating a space where culture, music, and food meet in a way that feels authentic and elevated — but always grounded in who Umhlobo Wenene FM and its listeners are,” says Cwy Mandindi, Marketing Manager at Umhlobo Wenene FM.
“Jazz and amaXhosa have long shared a deep connection, especially in the context of Cape Town’s cultural history. I often think back to the early ’90s and the SABC 1 series Living in the Blues — a show that portrayed a refined yet culturally anchored community. That memory has stayed with me and, in many ways, reflects the spirit we see in Dumza’s show. Uncuthu loMculo weJazz feels like a conversation between generations over a Sunday or Christmas meal — it’s familiar, warm, and culturally rich. Umhlobo Wenene FM’s involvement is a natural extension of our commitment to celebrating local talent, preserving culture, and telling stories that truly resonate with our audience” concludes Mandindi.
The collaboration will include joint social media content between Umhlobo Wenene FM, Expresso, and Asisipho on Friday, while audiences can look forward to surprise artists, teasers, sneak peeks of the event and more. Whether you’re a lover of jazz, a foodie, or simply someone who appreciates soulful experiences – Eziko noNcuthu loMculo weJazz is one for the calendar.
ENDS
ABOUT UMHLOBO WENENE FM
Umhlobo Wenene FM is one of South Africa’s leading radio stations, renowned for its culturally vibrant content and commitment to promoting local talent, indigenous language and the spirit of friendship. Broadcasting in isiXhosa to over 4 million listeners nationwide, Umhlobo Wenene FM carries a legacy of connecting communities and enriching lives, while never leaving them behind.
Media Enquiries:
Issued By: Group Communications
Media Enquiries: Mmoni Seapolelo (Head of Communications)
Seapolelomv@sabc.co.za | T. 011 714 3057 | C. 073 688 1590
