Nduduzo Makhathini is widely recognized as a jazz pianist, educator, and spiritual healer. However, the 43-year-old South African sees these roles as deeply interconnected. As a Zulu healer and educator, Makhathini has immersed himself in the histories and traditions of his ancestors, believing that improvised music is far more than just aesthetics or technique.

Through his music, he engages with audiences, weaving together stories of collective social and spiritual journeys, sharing history, philosophy, and personal insights. But beyond that, his performances also serve as spiritual ceremonies. Using both his piano and voice, he calls upon his Zulu ancestors, channeling his gifts as a sangoma (traditional healer) to provide spiritual relief and elevate consciousness. He refers to this practice as “healing sonics,” viewing it as both a responsibility and a calling. His compositions, in his own words, are acts of divination and prayers.

Makhathini draws significant inspiration from legendary South African jazz musicians, particularly Bheki Mseleku, Moses Molelekwa, and Abdullah Ibrahim. Additionally, he acknowledges the influence of American jazz pianists such as Andrew Hill, Randy Weston, and Don Pullen on his musical journey.

Early Life and Education

Born on September 24, 1982, in Umgungundlovu, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Nduduzo Makhathini was raised in the rolling hills of umGungundlovu, a peri-urban region where music and ritual practices were deeply intertwined.

Coming from a musical family, his passion for music developed early in life. Over the years, he has collaborated with renowned musicians such as Zim Ngqawana, Simphiwe Dana, Feya Faku, and McCoy Mrubata. His mentor, Bheki Mseleku, introduced him to the music of John Coltrane’s classic quartet with McCoy Tyner, which greatly influenced his style.

The church also played a crucial role in shaping his musical understanding. As a child, he moved between different churches, drawn solely by their music.

Makhathini earned a Diploma in Jazz Piano from the Durban University of Technology in 2005. In 2023, he furthered his academic journey by obtaining a PhD in music from the University of Stellenbosch.

Career

As an educator and researcher, Nduduzo Makhathini leads the music department at Fort Hare University in the Eastern Cape. He has performed at prestigious festivals such as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and the Essence Festival, both in New Orleans and South Africa. In 2019, he made his debut at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City and performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center, where he was a featured guest alongside Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for their three-night event, The South African Songbook, at Rose Theater.

Makhathini is also a member of Shabaka Hutchings’ band, Shabaka and the Ancestors, and contributed to their 2016 album, Wisdom of Elders. Over the years, he has collaborated with artists such as Logan Richardson, Nasheet Waits, Tarus Mateen, Stefon Harris, Billy Harper, Azar Lawrence, and Ernest Dawkins.

Beyond his own music, he has produced albums for fellow artists, including Belede by Thandiswa Mazwai and Project Elo by Tumi Mogorosi. Since founding the label Gundu Entertainment in 2014 with his wife, vocalist Omagugu Makhathini, he has released eight albums: Sketches of Tomorrow (2014), Mother Tongue (2014), Listening to the Ground (2015), Matunda Ya Kwanza (2015), Icilongo: The African Peace Suite (2016), Inner Dimensions (2016), and Reflections (2016).

His 2017 album, Ikhambi, was his first release under Universal Music South Africa and won Best Jazz Album at the 2018 South African Music Awards (SAMA). His Blue Note debut, Modes of Communication: Letters from the Underworlds, was named one of The New York Times’ “Best Jazz Albums of 2020.” This was followed by In the Spirit of Ntu in 2022 and uNomkhubulwane in 2024.

Awards

Makhathini was honored with the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz as part of the National Arts Festival. In 2017, he received the Best Jazz Artist award at the All Africa Music Awards. His musical contributions have earned him high praise, with Seton Hawkins of All About Jazz describing him as “a truly singular pianist, an astonishingly gifted composer, and a deeply nuanced thinker on the music… one of [South Africa]’s most remarkable talents.”

Discography

• Mother Tongue (Gundu, 2014) with Sakhile Simani, Mthunzi Mvubu, Linda Sikhakhane, Ariel Zamonsky, Benjamin Jeptha, Ayanda Sikade
• Sketches of Tomorrow (Gundu, 2014) with Sakhile Simani, Mthunzi Mvubu, Jonathan Crossley, Ayanda Sikade
• Listening to the Ground (Gundu, 2015)
• Matunda Ya Kwanza, Vol One (Gundu, 2015)
• Icilongo – The African Peace Suite (Gundu, 2016) with Sakhile Moleshe, Justin Bellairs, Shabaka Hutchings, Benjamin Jeptha, Ayanda Sikade
• Inner Dimensions – Umgidi Trio & One Voice Vocal Ensemble (2016) with Fabien Iannone, Dominic Egli, Lisette Spinnler, Jule Fahrer
• Ikhambi (Universal South Africa, 2016)
• Reflections (Gundu, 2017) – solo piano
• Modes Of Communication: Letters From The Underworlds (Blue Note, 2020)
• The Blues of a Zulu Spirit (EP, 2021)
• In the Spirit of Ntu (Blue Note Africa, 2022)
• uNomkhubulwane (Blue Note Africa, 2024)