Ayanda Sikade live at Guga S’Thebe

ABOUT

Though he’s been a crucial figure in South African jazz for years, drummer Ayanda Sikade is only now achieving the recognition he’s long deserved—something one could say about the South African scene as a whole, given the increased worldwide profile it’s begun to enjoy in the last few years. His second album as a leader has just arrived, and killer performances on others’s records seem to emerge constantly. Catch him live with Kyle Shepherd - keyboard, Darren English - trumpet, Nick Ford - bass

Born in Mdantsane township in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province on New Year’s Day 1981, Sikade began playing the drums as a child. “I’m from a traditional family, so we didn’t grow up with instruments at home,” he says via WhatsApp, after a day in the studio with trumpeter Siyanda Zulu. “We grew up on traditional music, which is sung, and then handclaps and of course dance. So I’m from that. But there was a jazz band not far from my house that I used to go and watch when they were rehearsing.”