Photo by Suzy Bernstein

Durban-born 2012 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for Jazz Afrika Mkhize started playing the piano at the age of six.

“I was surrounded by music at birth and never stopped loving it,” said Mkhize about his journey into jazz. “To win this award simply means that some individuals have been watching me for a number of years. This also means that there is appreciation for my work. My expectation is to continue working with confidence, since I now know that there is positive support,” he added.

“Afrika Mkhize represents the exciting new face of South African jazz,” said Alan Webster, National Arts Festival committee member for Jazz. “Steeped in South Africa’s musical heritage, he displays a fresh, international perspective that places South African jazz in a new perspective. He is a pianist with serious jazz chops who has the versatility to play music from across the spectrum, from African grooves to hip-hop to straight-ahead jazz, and in any company,” Webster added.

“One of the ways of understanding a nation and its culture is through music. This means that Standard Bank should continue developing and nurturing young artists as this makes our heritage and culture much richer and able to uplift the human spirit. I wish that other individuals or entities could follow the same example as Standard Bank,” said Mkhize. “Over the years the SBYAA has chosen the most talented, skilled and hard working musicians to be the recipients of this award. Some of the recent winners are close friends of mine, and it makes me feel honoured to be in the company of the previous winners,” he added.