Mansoor Jaffer’s 'Mother City Vibes': A celebration of Cape Town’s musical heritage
Mother City Vibes contributors MJ and the Camissa Knights, from left, Peter Ndlala on bass guitar, George Werner on keyboard and arrangement, composer Mansoor Jaffer on guitar, Uviwe Caso on guitar, Muneeb Hermans on trumpet, and Carlo Fabe on drums.
Image: Mike Benjamin
An original Cape jazz and ghoema instrumental is quickly becoming the soundtrack of Cape Town this year.
Mother City Vibes, composed by Wynberg resident and former Cape Community Media deputy editor Mansoor Jaffer, has racked up more than 25 000 views and listens in just six weeks since its release across YouTube, social media and radio.
The song, arranged by veteran jazz musician and music educator George Werner of Surrey Estate and recorded by MJ and the Camissa Knights, was released by the Cape Cultural Collective (CCC) on Day of Reconciliation, December 16.
It has since resonated with audiences locally and abroad.
Blending Cape jazz with ghoema rhythms, Mother City Vibes celebrates the sound, spirit and shared memory of Cape Town.
MrJaffer and Mr Werner feature on guitar and keyboard, respectively, alongside a lineup of musicians from across the metro, including Carlo Fabe from Westridge, Mitchell's Plain(Westridge) on drums; Peter Ndlala from Langa on bass, Mubneeb Hermans from Hanover Park on trumpet; and Uviwe Caso from Nyanga on guitar.
According to Mr Jaffer, the song’s appeal lies in its familiarity. “People connect to it in different ways – joy, nostalgia, even sadness,” he says. “It reflects places people grew up in, the beauty of the city and its struggles. It has that unmistakable Cape Town feel, rooted in Cape jazz and ghoema, which have long traditions here.”
Mr Jaffer says the tune first emerged about 15 years ago during informal jam sessions and was originally known as Chocolate Shake.
“It was only last year that I decided it was time to record it properly,” he says. “I felt it captured the beat and spirit of Cape Town, and that’s how the name Mother City Vibes came about.”
Trumpeter Mr Hermans said the track immediately reminded him of home. “When I hear Mother City Vibes, I think of Cape Town. We have a unique sound, and this song brings that sound to the people,” he says.
The music was recorded by Cape Town Sound, with the accompanying video filmed by Tri-Squared, featuring visuals that highlight the city’s landscapes and communities.
The project was released under Triple C Recordings, one of nine programmes run by the Cape Cultural Collective.
This marks Mr Jaffer’s second official composition. His earlier work, Midnight Blue, featured in the short film Address Unknown, which tells the story of the last postman of District Six.
The Camissa Knights, formed by Werner and made up of his former students, are also set to take the stage at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, running from Friday, March 27 to Saturday March 28 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Watch the Mother City Vibes video on YouTube