South Africa In Focus Symposium
"The Sound of Freedom: How Art and Music Fuelled South Africa’s Struggle Against Apartheid"

Dr Siyabulela Mandela is a globally respected peace and human rights leader, scholar and diplomatic strategist specialising in international development and conflict resolution. A descendant of King Ngubengcuka Aa Ndaba of the Thembu Kingdom and bearer of the Madiba clan name, he brings a rich heritage to his work advancing sustainable peace. He holds a PhD in International Relations and Conflict Resolution from Nelson Mandela University and has held academic posts in South Africa, Iraq and the
United States. Formerly with Journalists for Human Rights, he has led peacebuilding initiatives worldwide and now advises governments and multilateral actors on diplomacy and development.

Lebohang Kganye (b. 1990, South Africa) layers photography, history, research, theatricality, autobiography and. poetics in often sculptural installations. Kganye is currently exhibiting as part of a group show at New York’s MoMA, and has recently exhibited at Fotografiska Berlin, Tate Modern, Foam, LE BAL, and other notable institutions. She has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Deutsche Börse Foundation Prize in 2024, the ICP Infinity Award in 2025, and the Foam Paul Huf Award in 2022. Her work is held in collections including the Metropolitan Museum of
Art, the Centre Pompidou, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Getty Museum, and the Chazen Museum, among others.

Pieter Hugo (b. 1976, Johannesburg) is a photographic artist living in Cape Town. He has held major solo exhibitions at institutions such as Museu Coleção Berardo, the Hague Museum of Photography, Musée de l’Elysée in Lausanne, Fotografiska in Stockholm, and MAXXI in Rome, among many more. In 2008, Hugo received both the Discovery Award at the Rencontres d’Arles Festival and the KLM Paul Huf Award. He has since been shortlisted for the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize in 2012, and the Prix Pictet in 2015.

Sean O’Toole is an award-winning writer, editor and curator based in Cape Town. He has published two books, edited three volumes of essays and written extensively about art, photography and architecture for various print and online media. His most recent books are the biography Irma Stern: African in Europe - European in Africa (2021) and The Journey: New Positions in African Photography (2020), a New York Times notable art book of 2021. His recent curatorial projects include Photo book! Photo-book! Photobook! (2022) at A4 Arts Foundation and The Objects (2023) at Under Projects, both in Cape Town.

Msaki & Tubatsi – a new project formed by fast-rising South African solo star Msaki (a double winner at the 2022 South African Music Awards) and Tubatsi Mpho Moloi of Johannesburg band Urban Village – released their debut album “Synthetic Hearts” on March 10, 2023 through Nø Førmat! records (Ballaké Sissoko, Oumou Sangaré). The record features French cellist Clément Petit (who’s previously collaborated with Aloe Blacc, Ballaké Sissoko and Blick Bassy).
“Synthetic Hearts” is a collaborative album by Msaki, Tubatsi Mpho Moloi, and Clément Petit that transcends genres and borders. Across nine tracks, folk sensibilities blend with electronic sounds and the cello’s unique textures to create a quiet yet rich world centered on the theme of love. Experimental yet approachable,
the album unfolds as a gentle conversation between voices and instruments, inviting listeners into an intimate, immersive musical journey.

Jillian Wolf is an award-winning journalist, presenter, executive producer, public speaker, and judge for the prestigious annual Emmy Awards.
She has reached billions of viewers worldwide, through the world's largest media networks and publications including Forbes, TODAY Show, NBC News, Al Jazeera English, Thomson Reuters, and more.
She presents and moderates global special events, including the UN General Assembly, Global Citizen Festival, the FIFA World Cup, Forbes Summits, SXSW, Web Summit, London Tech Week, the CFDA Awards, and fashion runways around the world.
Known for her ability to disarm even the most prominent of guests, Jillian has interviewed the likes of Dame Anna Wintour, Trevor Noah, James Vowles, Martha Stewart, Precious and Patrice Motsepe, members of the Mandela and Tutu families, as well as leading founders and political figures from around the globe.
Born in South Africa and raised across Europe, the UK, Australia, and the United States, Jillian considers herself a citizen of the world. Her international upbringing has given her the ability to connect across racial, religious, and cultural boundaries, and get to the heart of the human story, every time.