Arts, Culture & Heritage
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JAMS

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JAMS
Installed: 2026

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JOHANNESBURG AFRICAN MUSIC SOCIETY (JAMS) Ben Mzwandile Xatasi, musician and founder of JAMS, was the first Black man to introduce Handel’s The Messiah to Africa. From 1958 to 1970, JAMS united Black and White audiences through powerful choral performances, defying apartheid divisions. Supported by the MOTH Society and Mayor Les Dishy, JAMS promoted inclusion and cultural expression. The apartheid regime ended these performances in 1970, but their legacy remains a powerful symbol of unity through music.

Photo courtesy: Kabelo Mokoena (Sunday Times)

Explore Joburg

A culmination of research gathered over many years, the Online Johannesburg Heritage Register is being launched on Nelson Mandela Day 18 July 2025.

Among the many heritage sites featured is Chancellor House, the downtown offices of Mandela and Tambo Attorneys in the 1950s. After having been vacant and shuttered for more than a decade, this iconic building is being revived and brought to life once again as offices for the Community Development Department, which oversees the City’s Arts, Culture & Heritage Services.

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