In celebration of 100 years of the legacy of Nelson Mandela and Stellenbosch University (SU), the SU Jazz Band hosted the Legacy Celebration Concert on Friday, 11 May, in the Endler Hall in Stellenbosch.

The concert paid tribute to legendary jazz trumpeter, composer and cultural activist Hugh Masekela, who passed away on 23 January 2018, and included sessions by vocal soloists Sima Mashazi, Babalwa Mentjies and Mynhardt Kruger, who performed some of Masekela's familiar melodies.

The evening was specifically dedicated to the launch of the new social impact initiative of SU's Music Department, Roots@SU. This initiative will encompass a number of programmes and projects. These will include the Music Department's Certificate Programme, Rural Engagement Programme, Service Learning Programme, Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, Endler Concert Series and many off-site partnership programmes.

The SU Jazz Band, under the leadership of Felici a Lesch, took centre stage and rendered pieces from their Certificate Programme. Present on the night were community partners from Cloetesville, Mitchells Plain, Athlone, Kuils River, Khayelitsha and even from as far as Mamre and Ceres.

The evening also served as a launch event of the partnership between SU and the e'Bosch Heritage Project. Representatives from e'Bosch in the communities of Cloetesville, Idas Valley, Jamestown, Khayamandi, Klapmuts, Pniel, Kylemore, Raithby, Vlottenburg and Stellenbosch Central, and music teachers and school principals from these communities, were in attendance.

Lesch, who is a lecturer at the Music Department, said that she has always believed in the medium of big bands, as it is a good way for people to learn about rhythm, melody ˗ and themselves.

“I took over the Certificate Programme in 2005. It's a part-time music literacy programme that's open to anyone who wants to learn music on a part-time basis. We cater for staff, students and general members of the community," she said.

Apart from winning the Fiesta Award, the SU Jazz Band has shared the stage with some of the finest jazz musicians: Judith Sephuma, Gloria Bosman, Amanda Strydom, Sibongile Khumalo and Timothy Moloi.

“I think the individual stories from students about how their lives have changed since their involvement in the programme deserve this recognition." Lesch added that they have been fortunate enough to get gigs from the Woordfees.

She concluded by saying, “Children were important to Nelson Mandela and the Legacy Celebration Concert is about children. We were extremely excited that children joined us on the stage to celebrate both Madiba and Masekela's legacy."

Lesch is passionate about jazz education and has been taking students to the National Youth Jazz Festival since 1999. Her involvement at the festival expanded to teaching and later to becoming a member of the selection panel for the National Schools Big Band, which she was selected to conduct in 2009.