Echoes of Marabi
Echoes of Marabi
Echoes of Marabi, a South African–Swiss bridgebuilder, is a musical collaboration between Johannesburg and Bern, carried by deep respect for South Africa’s musical traditions and by the courage to shape them anew. At its core is the creative partnership between Yonela Mnana and Benedikt Reising: Mnana’s voice and piano unfold a poetic force that meets a breathing, improvisationally attuned counterpart in Reising’s finely nuanced playing on saxophone, flute, and bass clarinet—intuitive, thoughtful, and full of musical warmth.
The pianist and singer Yonela Mnana combines profound musical knowledge with emotional directness, shaped by his personal biography and his deep engagement with South African musical history. Benedikt Reising contributes his experience from the European jazz scene, marked by a refined sense for tone color, structure, and transcultural collaboration—an interplay that gives the duo a distinctive artistic voice.
The ensemble is expanded by the charismatic vocal trio The Soultees—Busisiwe Shongwe, Nompumelelo Gugu Kubheka, and Happiness Siyoko—whose voices recall the tradition of legendary South African women’s vocal groups while bringing a unique expressive power of their own. Their harmonies lend the music emotional breadth and spiritual depth.
The music draws from Marabi, a style that emerged in the townships, shaped by simple harmonies, danceable rhythms, and a longing for community. But Echoes of Marabi goes far beyond mere reference: it is a contemporary statement on sound, resilience, and the power of collaboration across cultural and geographic boundaries.
Line-up:
Yonela Mnana – piano, vocals
Benedikt Reising – saxophone, flute, bass clarinet
Busisiwe Shongwe – vocals
Nompumelelo Gugu Kubheka – vocals
Happiness Siyoko – vocals
Venue
The concert takes place in the intimate setting of the restaurant Rechberg 1837. Before the musical performance, the kitchen serves a four-course menu tailored to the evening. As space is limited, reservations including the concert menu will be given priority. Seats for the concert without dinner will only be released at short notice, depending on availability.
Prices
Concert & 4-course menu: CHF 130.–
Concert only: CHF 35.–
Students with Kulturlegi: CHF 20.–
Schedule
Doors open: 18:00
À la carte: last order 18:45 (until 21:00)
Concert menu: 19:00
Concert: 21:45