Mandhla., a gender-non-conforming singer, dancer and visual storyteller born in Zimbabwe and based in Berlin, sees the stage as a space for transformation and expresses themselves through conceptually sophisticated performance art and raw sonic vulnerability.

Rooted in Afrofuturism, contemporary dance and ballroom culture, their live sets feel less like conventional musical performances and more like immersive theatrical rituals. In this listening session, Mandhla. takes us on a journey through the history of Southern African jazz and its profound influence on global soul, funk and jazz traditions: from Sophiatown in the 1950s, through the exile and diaspora networks in London, Los Angeles and West Africa, right up to the present day.

Through the work of seminal artists such as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Letta Mbulu and Caiphus Semenya, we can hear how music, under the conditions of apartheid, migration and exile, became a space for resistance, belonging and survival. Viewed from a queer artistic perspective, this event celebrates sound as a space of fluidity, survival and self-chosen family beyond borders.

We will be exploring some influential albums, embarking on a sonic journey through the evolution of South African jazz, and enjoying a short performance by Mandhla, which demonstrates how these influences have shaped her musical identity.

About nextdoor Talk

We’d like to get to know Berlin’s vibrant cultural scene even better. Once a month, hosts Lucilla Schmidinger and Sebastian Reier chat with guests about their unique ways of life, projects and works. Each episode centres on music and the shared experience of discovering something new. The way this takes place varies greatly: whether it’s listening to records or watching and discussing films, introducing books to one another, having discussions, sharing a meal or meditating together – anything is possible.

For organisational reasons, in some cases, dates and guests may only be announced in the course of the season.

 Event in English