Thabani Gapara Presents Dzindza NZ Tour: A Celebration of African Heritage
Fresh from a nomination for Best Jazz Album at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards, award-nominated saxophonist and composer Thabani Gapara is taking his album Dzindza on a nationwide tour. The Dzindza NZ Tour will bring his vibrant blend of African jazz fusion to audiences across Aotearoa, delivering a powerful celebration of heritage, rhythm, and community.
Dzindza meaning “ancestry” in Gapara’s native Shona language, is a personal body of work that weaves together Afrobeat, Highlife, Mbaqanga, and Mbira with influences from across the African diaspora, including Zouk, funk, and soul. It is both a heartfelt tribute to Gapara’s Southern African roots and a bold statement about the global reach of African jazz today.
With over two decades of performance experience, Gapara is renowned for his magnetic stage presence and the energy of his world-class band. His live shows are immersive journeys blending rich musical storytelling, infectious grooves, and fearless improvisation that leave audiences both moved and uplifted.
This year’s tour builds on a string of career highlights, including a world-class headline performance at Jazz in the Park earlier this year at Church Road Winery.
DZINDZA NZ TOUR DATES
Christchurch – 19 September – A Rolling Stone
Tauranga – 10 October – 16th Ave Theatre
Wellington – 18 October – San Fran
Auckland – 26 October – Titirangi Festival
Napier – 1 November – Toitoi Opera House
From the first note to the last encore, Dzindza is a celebration, a call to celebrate, reflect, and connect. Whether you’re part of the African diaspora or simply a lover of great music, Thabani Gapara’s performances promise a night of joy, rhythm, and soul.
