Basha Uhuru Festival 2026 to celebrate Skwatta Kamp and Maria McCloy in major tribute

Johannesburg’s most anticipated creative explosion, the Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival, is officially taking over Constitution Hill on Saturday, June 27. 

Founded back in 2012, the festival was created to honour the brave youth of the 1976 Soweto Uprising by giving today’s generation the ultimate freedom: the freedom to create, express and shine.

Now in its 14th year, the festival is a massive celebration of art, music, film and youth activism.

Whether you want to learn, network or just dance the night away, here is a sneak peek at what’s going down.

Skwatta Kamp snags the Legacy Award

This year’s festival is bringing some major nostalgia!

The prestigious Basha Uhuru Legacy Award is being presented to the legendary South African hip hop royalty, Skwatta Kamp.

This special award honors iconic voices who have championed creative freedom and shaped the country’s cultural landscape.

Skwatta Kamp joins an elite club of previous winners, including Mandla Spikiri, Thebe, Alaska and the 2025 recipients, Boom Shaka. 

Art with heart: The Maria McCloy mural unveiling

Keep your eyes peeled for a beautiful new addition to the walls of Constitution Hill.

The festival will be unveiling a special mural honouring Maria McCloy, a celebrated DJ, designer, publicist and true South African creative icon.

McCloy died at a Johannesburg hospital following heart failure on May 12. 

She had a deep connection with Constitution Hill, even performing on the Basha stage last year.

The mural is designed by the globally recognised local artist Lazi Mathebula. It will sit proudly right next to the legendary Bra Hugh Masekela’s mural on Joubert Street.

The music line-up

The Sounds of Freedom music festival kicks off at the People’s Park from 10am on Saturday, and the lineup is absolutely stacked.

With something to offer both the young and the young-at-heart, the Sounds of Freedom main stage is set to deliver non-stop energy with a blockbuster line-up of headliners, including Nasty C, Zee Nxumalo, Skwatta Kamp, DJ Tira, Bucie and DJ Cleo.

Bringing even more fire to the festival are incredible acts like Lia Butler, Osmic, Teedo Love, Atmos Blaq x Maline Aura, HitBossSA and Sipho Alphi Mkhwanazi, among others.

When you need a break from the music, you can stroll beyond the main stage to explore a bustling market filled with unique products, making it the perfect opportunity to buy local and support talented artists, makers and designers.

Free creative conferences and summits

The festival party actually starts early with the Creative Conference kicking off tomorrow, June 24, for the Youth Summit on the Hill, where you can expect powerful, game-changing conversations from heavyweights like Soweto Uprising leader Seth Mazibuko, Justice Tembeka Ngcukaitobi and various civil society groups.

There are also free programs to attend; just remember to register to secure your spot.

You can dive into a music masterclass by Groove Academy featuring industry experts from SAMRO and SAMPRA who will teach emerging musicians how to turn their talent into actual cash, catch a showcase of incredible locally produced films at the Visions of Freedom Film Festival or experience powerful live performances alongside a star-studded poetry line-up featuring world-class wordsmiths like Mak Manaka, Modise Sekgothe and Xabiso Vili. 

Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, the Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, expressed her excitement about the event, stating: “Basha Uhuru is more than a festival; it is a celebration of the power, resilience and imagination of South Africa’s youth.

“We are thrilled to see thousands of young people gather at Constitution Hill to commemorate 50 years of youth activism and creative freedom through music, art, film, entrepreneurship and dialogue.”

She said that the significance of events like these is in providing platforms for young people to showcase their talents and contribute to Gauteng’s burgeoning creative economy.