Based: Cape Town

Mandisi Dyantyis is one of South Africa’s most compelling contemporary jazz voices — a trumpeter, vocalist, composer and arranger whose work blends jazz, gospel and indigenous African musical influences into a sound that is both intimate and expansive. Born in Gqeberha, he began his musical journey in church before going on to study at the University of Cape Town, where later coverage notes that he completed a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies with distinction.

He first gained major recognition with his debut album Somandla, followed by Cwaka, a release that went on to earn him a South African Music Award for Best African Adult Contemporary Album. Across profiles and recent festival coverage, Dyantyis is consistently described as a multi-award-winning artist whose music carries strong storytelling, emotional depth and a distinctly South African spiritual and cultural identity.

More recent coverage shows that his profile continues to grow. In October 2025, Music In Africa reported a new album and national tour, while his own official pages point to major 2026 performances including Mandisi Dyantyis’ Symphonic Celebration. That makes him not only a respected legacy-quality jazz figure, but a very current live artist for festivals, concert programmes, premium corporate events and curated private functions.