Kapi Gantsu Prepares to Release a Defining Live EP

South African musician and producer Kapi Gantsu is preparing to release Kapi Gantsu Live at Victory Theatre on 27 February 2026, a five-track EP recorded before a packed audience in Johannesburg. The project places listeners directly inside the room, preserving the pulse, spontaneity, and communal energy of a live performance rather than reconstructing it in a studio setting.

At the center of the EP is “Iinkomo,” the opening track that first set the tone during his Hamba Ungemi tour, which traveled through Cape Town and East London before arriving in Johannesburg. On stage at Victory Theatre, the song became a defining moment — expansive, rhythm-driven, and charged with crowd response. The live arrangement highlights the chemistry between Gantsu and his band: Tavern Solomon on drums, Mandilakhe Chaga on guitar, Mthokozisi Mabuza on keyboards, and Edgar Muzah on bass guitar. The recording, mixing, and mastering were handled by Cornelius Poisat, maintaining the warmth of the performance.

Kapi Gantsu’s artistry is deeply informed by personal history and cultural memory. Born and raised in Tyholora, George, with family heritage in Middelburg and Cradock in the Eastern Cape, he grew up surrounded by Zion hymns, traditional healer sounds, and informal jazz sessions led by local musicians. Those early influences shaped a musical identity grounded in storytelling, layered percussion, and melodic depth.

Today, that foundation informs a sound that bridges jazz, Afro-soul, and Afro-pop, balancing cultural preservation with contemporary reach.