The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, under the banner of the Van Toeka Af Living Legends Recognition Series, will host a powerful tribute concert in honour of Mama Abigail Kubeka, celebrating her 68 years of excellence in the South African music, arts, and cultural industry.
Taking place on Friday, 5 July 2025 at 18:00 at the State Theatre in Pretoria, this one-night-only event brings together over 25 legendary performers, all of whom have volunteered their time and talent to celebrate a woman whose voice, presence, and resilience have helped shape South Africa’s cultural identity.
The concert is directed by Khaya Mahlangu, with performances from celebrated artists such as Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Faith Kekana, Mandisa Dlanga, Khanyo Maphumulo, and Stella Khumalo. Audiences can also look forward to musical contributions from Sipho Mabuse, McCoy Mrubata, Babsy Mlangeni, Stompie Manana, Fana Zulu, and many more, alongside an opening performance by Zenzi Makeba Lee and the Miriam Makeba Band.
This celebration forms part of the Department’s growing commitment to “give them flowers while they can still smell them” — a central principle of the Van Toeka Af Living Legends Recognition Series, an initiative launched in 2023 to honour individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to South Africa’s arts and cultural heritage. The series not only acknowledges their legacy, but also provides tangible support through platforms such as the Living Legends Legacy Fraternity Trust (LLLFT).
(Image: Veli Nhlapo)
Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Peace Mabe, will deliver remarks at the event. Ahead of the celebration, she shared the following tribute:
“Mama Abigail Kubeka is more than a performer — she is a living archive of our nation’s cultural history. For nearly seven decades, her voice has carried the spirit of resistance, love, and healing. In her music and her presence, generations have found hope. Honouring her through the Van Toeka Af series is both a duty and a privilege, and a reminder that South Africa’s greatest treasures are still among us, guiding us with their wisdom, grace, and unmatched artistry.” 
“The Van Toeka Af programme is about legacy, memory, and dignity. It says to our artists: we see you, we thank you, and we walk beside you. It ensures that future generations understand whose shoulders they stand on. And it gives life and light to those who made their art during some of South Africa’s darkest hours — often at great personal cost.”
Mama Abigail Kubeka’s journey began in the 1950s, and she remains one of the few surviving artists who performed alongside Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela during the apartheid era. Her career spans film, television, jazz, theatre, and activism — a legacy that remains unmatched. Her enduring presence continues to inspire emerging artists and remind South Africans of the healing power of the arts.
This tribute follows in the footsteps of similar honours bestowed on legends such as Dr John Kani and Dr Tete Mbambisa. These recognition events are not only emotional homecomings for the artists being celebrated, but also national moments of reflection — on where we’ve come from, who we are, and the kind of cultural future we wish to build.
Event Details
Date: Friday, 5 July 2025
Time: 18:00
Venue: State Theatre, Pretoria
Dress Code: Black Tie
Tickets: R500 – Available at Webtickets and Pick n Pay
(Image: Veli Nhlapo)
As Deputy Minister Mabe reminded us at the last Van Toeka Af tribute:
“Let us not wait for memorials to honour our legends. Let us do it now, while their light still shines, and their stories still teach.”Join us in Pretoria to witness a moment in history — a tribute to Mama Abigail Kubheka, whose music and spirit have long been the soundtrack of South African resilience.
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@SportArtsCultureRSA | #HonouringAbigailKubheka #VanToekaAf #LivingLegendsSA
