Muneyi Returns to UJ for a Landmark Homecoming Performance

Award-winning singer-songwriter and storyteller Muneyi returns to the University of Johannesburg this June with Shumela Venda, an intimate album launch and ceremonial homecoming performance that closes his chapter as a Standard Bank Young Artist.

Presented by UJ Arts & Culture, the concert promises an intimate evening that brings together music, memory, spirituality, and storytelling in the very institution that played a significant role in his artistic development.

About Shumela Venda

Rooted in Tshivenda oral traditions and enriched by contemporary folk and jazz influences, Shumela Venda explores themes of ancestry, memory, and African interiority.

The 90-minute performance will guide audiences through both new material and selected works from Muneyi's catalogue, creating a musical journey that reflects his evolving relationship with identity, heritage, and storytelling. Expect moments of quiet reflection alongside rich sonic experimentation, all delivered through the distinctive style that has earned Muneyi recognition as one of South Africa's most compelling contemporary artists.

A Return to Where It All Began

The performance represents a full-circle moment for Muneyi. After nearly a decade, he returns to the University of Johannesburg, where many of the defining moments of his early artistic journey took place. During his student years, Muneyi placed third in the university's So You Think You Can Sing UJ competition in 2016. He later took on a leading role in Choir Boy, UJ Arts & Culture's acclaimed 2018 production of Tarell Alvin McCraney's play, which went on to receive a Standard Bank Fringe Award at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda. He also developed his craft through the UJ Choir and shared stages with artists such as Nduduzo Makhathini and Zoë Modiga at the UJ Weekend of Jazz.

Now, nearly a decade later, Muneyi returns not as a student performer but as the sole storyteller of the evening, bringing with him years of artistic growth and creative exploration.

Celebrating a Remarkable Artistic Journey

Over the past decade, Muneyi has emerged as one of South Africa’s most distinctive musical voices, blending folk, language, and spirituality into a singular storytelling practice. His work explores themes of memory, language, and African interiority through a multidisciplinary lens that resists easy categorisation. In 2025, he was named a Standard Bank Young Artist, one of the country’s most prestigious honours for emerging artistic excellence, marking a pivotal moment in his career.

Shumela Venda is a ceremonial return, a celebration of artistic evolution, and an opportunity to witness a significant chapter in the career of an artist whose voice continues to shape South Africa's cultural landscape.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, 20 June 2026

Time: 17:00

Venue: Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre, UJ Arts Centre, Kingsway Campus, Auckland Park

Tickets: R350 to R450