This project reflects the determination and spirit that energised the South African freedom movement led by Nelson Mandela and acknowledges the role that the sounds and images of American jazz musicians from the United States played in developing the political discourse of resistance in apartheid South Africa. We draw together traditional sounds of South Africa, with contemporary African American-influenced jazz, encapsulated in a shared aural history – a jazz opera. The journey of writing, recording, and presenting this work has been long and personal. It all started with Dawkin’s first visit to South Africa in 1997. He experienced a homecoming like no other. He experienced a sense of belonging, felt the presence of ancestors, and met many significant people who are amongst my closest friends to this day.
