Musiktalk mit Mandhla. (Soul Diaries)

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.

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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 the audience 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, under the conditions of apartheid, migration and exile, music 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. You will explore some influential records, embark on a sonic journey through the evolution of South African jazz, and experience a short performance by Mandhla., which demonstrates how these influences have shaped her musical identity.

About Nextdoor Talk

Nextdoor Talk delves into Berlin’s fluid cultural scene. Once a month, hosts Lucilla Schmidinger and Sebastian Reier talk to their guests about special music, ways of life, perspectives and projects. They approach this diversity of forms with a variety of formats: whether they’re listening to records together, watching and discussing films, recommending books to one another, debating, eating together or meditating together – what happens next door can enrich lives and broaden horizons. Take a closer look and listen!