From student dreamer to festival headliner, Benjamin Jephta’s full-circle moment at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz

For South African bassist and composer Benjamin Jephta, stepping onto the Joy of Jazz stage this year is far more than just another performance — it marks a full-circle moment, a powerful reflection of where he stands in his career today. This milestone also comes as Jephta celebrates a decade since the release of his debut album, Homecoming, with the Joy of Jazz standing as a central pillar in his journey since.

“The younger Benjamin would be wide-eyed, in disbelief at how far I’ve come. I remember being a student, going to the Joy of Jazz, watching the legends, and feeling that dream stir inside me. I was once part of the Standard Bank Youth Jazz Band, standing in the crowd and imagining what it would be like to play on that stage. To now be headlining one of the biggest stages at the festival is both humbling and affirming — it feels like a full-circle moment,” he shares.

This year, Jephta joins a myriad of prolific performers from different parts of the world over the three day music extravaganza, 26 to 28 September 2025, where he will also get a chance to lend his voice as part of the Jazz Wise Career Development Workshop panel — a space designed to offer guidance, training, and networking opportunities for aspiring professionals eager to carve their own paths in the industry.

And the timing is perfect, coming on the heels of a deeply reflective chapter in his career, which he describes as a time of growth and giving back — “not only playing the music but also contributing to the larger story of South African jazz,” he shares.

“Festivals like Joy of Jazz create space where the music breathes beyond the clubs and academic institutions. They connect artists to wider audiences, and they remind us that jazz is not just for insiders — it’s for everyone. They make the music visible, accessible, and part of the cultural memory of the country.”

Jephta recently released Still I Rise (Part 1), the lead single from his forthcoming album Homecoming Revisited. Inspired by Maya Angelou’s timeless poem, the song revisits resilience — a theme Jephta first explored on his debut album a decade ago.

“Returning to Still I Rise now was about revisiting resilience from a new perspective,” he says. “Not only as a younger artist finding my voice but as someone who has carried the weight of experience, community and collaboration.”

His upcoming project, Homecoming Revisited, blends South African jazz with Afrobeats, hip-hop textures and amapiano grooves, creating a sound that is youthful yet mature, global yet deeply rooted at home.

“For me, it’s about expanding the idea of what South African jazz can be,” Jephta explains. “It’s still about storytelling and identity, but it’s also about reimagining how those stories can resonate with a younger generation.”

Looking back on his career, Jephta admits the biggest surprise has been how much the music has evolved — both globally and personally.

“Jazz today is porous — it’s constantly absorbing and being redefined across borders,” he says. “For me, the surprise has been how much I’ve come to embrace not only the bass player in me but also the composer, producer and collaborator.”

Still, no matter how much has changed, his hope remains simple: that his presence and performance at Joy of Jazz inspire the next generation.

“I hope it says: ‘your story matters, and your sound matters’. You don’t have to fit into a box — you can define your own path,” he says. “I want the next generation to see that jazz is not a relic but a living, breathing space where you can be yourself fully.”

Fans attending Standard Bank Joy of Jazz can expect a celebration of 10 years of Homecoming. Jephta will be joined by Marcus Wyatt on trumpet, Sphelelo Mazibuko on drums, Sisonke Xonti on tenor saxophone, Zibusiso Makhathini on piano, and Gontse Makhene on percussion.

“They can expect energy, joy and reflection all at once,” Jephta promises. “And most importantly, they can expect honesty — music that comes straight from the heart.”

As he prepares for this full-circle moment, Jephta carries one thing above all: gratitude.

“From being in the Standard Bank Youth Jazz Band to now headlining the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, it’s been an incredible journey. I’m excited to share this moment with everyone and hope it inspires more people to keep the music alive.”