From rural Greytown to the Fête de la Musique stage, Jabulile Majola shares a heartfelt story of faith, healing and the search for belonging.
South Africa (28 October 2025) – Warming acoustics and harmonious vocals drift by while listening to Isitifiketi, Jabulile Majola’s new EP. The album draws on his spiritual roots as well as his love for folk music and poetry. Speaking to Jabulile, born Jabulani, we learned how he turned his passions and history into a beautiful album and about his excitement at being selected to perform at the 2025 Fête de la Musique.
Growing up in rural Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal, he was taken in, joining the Pastor’s household as one of 26 siblings; Jabulani was raised deeply rooted in faith. He spent his early youth inspired by the melodies echoing through the church, where his love for music was born. He discovered the power and poetry of words and started out recording rap songs. Even though his older brother tried to teach him guitar when he was younger, his interests at the time lay elsewhere.
After moving to Cape Town, he expanded his musical horizons, drawing inspiration from folk and exploring the emotional landscapes of artists like Bon Iver, Paul Simon, Joseph Shabalala, and Leonard Cohen. He picked up the guitar again, and the rest, as they say, is history.
In honour of his mother, who disappeared shortly after his birth, he adopted her name, Jabulile, citing that it was all he had of her. That using her name was a way to start healing. The healing didn’t stop there. His EP Isitifiketi speaks powerfully to the idea of recognition and belonging, and honours the most simple form of identity: the birth certificate.
“Everybody has that deep need to belong somewhere, to someone. I think my story speaks into that. For the majority of my life, I have found myself looking to see where I belong and to find my identity.
The EP is a culmination not only the quest for identity but also of feeling a sense of belonging”
For many, questioning one’s identity is a profound journey. As Jabulile has grown up in life and looked back, he can mark certain moments that began to show who he was. This journey is one that many will travel, and he hopes to honour those feelings.
“I tend to see us as humans moving in this world; we are constantly finding different forms of ourselves due to different environments that we are exposed to. It starts to shape where we are going and shapes who we are in the present.”
Listeners have found this truly meaningful, connecting to the storytelling within his EP. Many have related to the songs and found the message of hope that Jabulile has been sharing.
“The hope I tend to speak about is not necessarily the hope that tomorrow is going to be better, it’s the hope that anchors us in the times when it’s the worst, in the times of darkness.”
“The stories I am sharing are not far from the experiences that people are familiar with, whether it’s something they grew up having experienced or things that are currently going on in their lives”
Jabulile applied to be a part of the 2025 Fête de la Musique in the hope of sharing his music and was selected as one of 12 performers to join the 14th edition of Fête de la Musique. Here, musicians and performers celebrate musical expression, community, and cultural exchange.
The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, coincided with the 14th Fête de la Musique, and the 50th anniversary of UNESCO’s International Music Day. It made for an extra special day and one that meant a great deal to Jabulile.
At the heart of it all, Jabulile shares that IFAS intends to empower musicians and storytellers and, most importantly, the honest stories that these artists hope to share.
Being included in the Fête de la Musique was a great honour, but what Jabulile loved most was how accessible the day was. He reflects on his time on the stage, seeing young children dancing and enjoying the show just as much as their loved ones.
“Every person was there; from every nation, every age group. There were kids dancing in front – that was my highlight”
“It wasn’t this exclusive event. It’s IFAS trying to showcase these stories to each and every single person.”
As for the listeners who hear his music going forward, Jabulile reiterates that his hope for them is to be able to find the hope that can guide them through the tough times.
Speaking to the young musicians, he encourages them not to rush into their careers. Having patience and overcoming doubt are active ways to forge forward. In that waiting period, learn, grow and develop your musical strengths. Then, when your day comes, you will be fully equipped to run with it.
This interview is part of a special partnership between the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi, the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and Good Things Guy, celebrating 30 years of cultural co-creation. Since 1995, IFAS, the cultural agency of the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi, has supported artistic and creative exchange across disciplines from visual arts to gaming.
To mark its 30th anniversary in 2025, IFAS and Good Things Guy are sharing the stories of South African creatives whose journeys have been shaped by French–South African cooperation, highlighting three decades of connection, creativity, and shared achievement. You can read them all here.
Sources: Supplied
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