SAT Story by Joseph Madyembwa: Music, culture, and fashion will converge in spectacular form when WAV Festival debuts in Cape Town on 2 January 2026, marking the birth of a new platform dedicated to R&B, soul, and alternative music from Africa and the diaspora. The festival promises not only a sonic experience but a celebration of identity, artistry, and cultural connection in one of the world’s most captivating cities.

The first edition of WAV Festival arrives with intent and precision, its timing set to harness the creative pulse that has come to define Cape Town’s summers. Over the past few years, the city has evolved into a gathering point for musicians, visual artists, designers, and thinkers from across the continent. Festivals, residencies, and international collaborations have transformed it into a stage for Africa’s creative resurgence. WAV Festival steps confidently into this moment, reflecting a continent that is no longer seeking validation but shaping the future of global culture on its own terms.

Curated by The Malachite Group in collaboration with Africa Creative Agency, WAV Festival brings together artists who are not merely performing but representing the evolution of R&B and soul in African and diasporic contexts. Its line-up blends established global names with homegrown innovators, crafting a narrative that connects Atlanta’s studio rhythms to Johannesburg’s street sounds, Lagos’ bold experimentation, and the spiritual depth of Cape Town’s jazz and soul lineage.

Headlining the event is Mariah The Scientist, the Atlanta-born R&B artist whose introspective storytelling and unfiltered vulnerability have made her one of the most exciting voices in contemporary music. Her performance in Cape Town marks her South African debut and an emotional convergence of worlds: an African-descended artist returning to the continent to perform for an audience that has long embraced her sound.

Joining her is Kelvin Momo, the South African producer and DJ widely regarded as one of the architects of the “private school Amapiano” sound. His approach to music — soulful, meditative, and deeply textured — bridges the intimacy of R&B with the rhythmic pulse of African dance music. Momo’s appearance at WAV Festival will serve as both a homecoming and a bridge between generations, linking South Africa’s house music heritage with the contemporary global sound.

Adding local flair and emotional depth, artists such as Shekhinah, Manana, Nanette, Kujenga, and Yandani bring distinct voices that reflect the diverse textures of South African soul and R&B. Each represents a new chapter in the country’s creative evolution, grounded in authenticity and fearless in experimentation. The Strictly Soul Hour featuring Akio adds a communal touch, a reminder that beyond streaming and screens, music’s truest power lies in shared experience.

Beyond the performances, WAV Festival’s vision is as much cultural as it is musical. It aims to create a space where art, fashion, and community intersect. From stage design to audience experience, every element has been crafted to evoke emotion and encourage connection. The festival’s open-air stage, framed by the Atlantic coastline, transforms Cape Town’s natural beauty into a backdrop for global creative dialogue.

Colin Gayle, founder of Africa Creative Agency and one of the continent’s most influential cultural entrepreneurs, describes WAV as “more than a show.” For him, the festival represents a long-held vision of equality and collaboration within African and global creative networks. “WAV is a space where global African culture meets on equal ground,” he says. “For years I have helped connect African talent to the world, and this festival continues that journey. We are proud to spotlight the next wave of voices shaping music, style, and identity worldwide. It is a bold statement for a connected, unapologetically creative future.”

That future is precisely what The Malachite Group and ACA intend to shape. Drawing on decades of experience producing transformative cultural events, The Malachite Group has been behind acclaimed projects such as Afro Nation, which has redefined the global festival scene with editions in Portugal, Miami, Detroit, and Ghana. Their partnership with ACA ensures that WAV remains rooted in African insight while speaking a global language of artistry, innovation, and cultural pride.

In an era when African music has captured global attention, WAV Festival seeks to deepen the conversation, not merely as a celebration of success, but as an articulation of identity. It presents R&B not as a borrowed genre, but as an evolving language that continues to echo across continents. Its blend of music, fashion, and community underscores a truth that has long been evident to those who live and breathe it: Africa has always been central to the world’s rhythm.

As the first chords ring out across Cape Town’s shoreline in January, WAV Festival will mark more than a new year. It will mark a new cultural moment, one defined by the sound of a continent in full voice.