Seen Here: 🎶🔥 100 YEARS OF AFRICAN MUSIC. ONE ICONIC CELEBRATION! From the legendary sounds that shaped generations to the beats defining the future, Gallo 100: The Sound of a Century is bringing the heat to Cape Town! Headlined by Black Coffee, with Uncle Waffles, DJ Maphorisa, Sun-El Musician, Ami Faku, Oscar Mbo, Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse and more, this is a celebration of Africa’s musical legacy in all its glory. Photo Credit: Supplied
South African music royalty and contemporary chart-toppers will converge at Cape Town’s Grand Parade on 15 December 2026 as Gallo unveils the full line-up for Gallo 100: The Sound of a Century — a landmark festival celebrating 100 years of recording, preserving and championing African music.
Headlined by internationally acclaimed South African DJ and producer Black Coffee, the centenary celebration will bring together artists representing the depth, diversity and evolution of the country’s music industry.
The line-up includes Amapiano sensation Uncle Waffles, hitmaker DJ Maphorisa, legendary musician Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Afro House producer Sun-El Musician, Julian Gomes, acclaimed vocalist Ami Faku, Oscar Mbo, Da Mike, Fraser Jones, LeloWhatsGood, Jay Jayy and Temple Boys. Special guests are also expected to join the festivities.
Presented in partnership with KFM, the festival promises a meeting of generations and genres, connecting South Africa’s rich musical heritage with the sounds shaping its contemporary and future identity.
A century of African music
Established in 1926, Gallo has played a significant role in documenting and promoting South African music across generations. Its catalogue spans jazz, mbaqanga, isicathamiya, maskandi, gospel, reggae, soul, kwaito, house and contemporary dance music.
The label’s musical legacy includes recordings associated with influential artists such as Solomon Linda, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Lucky Dube — names whose contributions helped carry South African music to audiences at home and around the world.
As Gallo marks its centenary, the festival will celebrate not only the artists whose recordings shaped the past, but also the producers, songwriters, communities and music lovers who continue to sustain the country’s musical culture.
From musical heritage to global dancefloors
Black Coffee’s headline performance brings an internationally recognised name to a celebration rooted in South Africa’s enduring influence on global music.
Alongside him, the line-up reflects the country’s expanding musical footprint, from the infectious rhythms of Amapiano and the immersive sounds of Afro House to soulful vocals, electronic music and established live performance traditions.
The combination of established musicians and contemporary performers is central to the festival’s vision: demonstrating how South African music continually reinvents itself while remaining connected to its cultural roots.
By bringing artists from different generations and musical backgrounds onto one stage, Gallo 100 aims to create an experience that speaks to long-time music lovers and younger audiences discovering the country’s musical history in new ways.
More than a concert
Gallo 100: The Sound of a Century is positioned as more than a conventional music festival. It is intended as a celebration of music as a living archive — preserving the sounds, stories and cultural movements that have shaped South African society while making room for new creative expression.
Antos Stella, CEO of Music Arena, said the milestone represented a cultural achievement extending beyond the record label itself.
“Gallo’s centenary is not only a company milestone. It is a cultural milestone,” Stella said.
He noted that the label had been part of people’s lives for a century and that the festival would honour the artists, producers, writers, communities and music lovers who had carried its musical story across generations.
Stella added that bringing together artists representing the diversity and continued evolution of South African music was a fitting way to recognise the past while looking towards the future.
Cape Town set for a landmark celebration
On 15 December, the Grand Parade will become a gathering place for music enthusiasts to celebrate the rhythms, voices and creative talent that continue to define South Africa’s contribution to the global music landscape.
For Gallo, the centenary is an opportunity to reflect on a remarkable musical journey while celebrating the artists and sounds that will shape the next chapter.
Event: Gallo 100: The Sound of a Century
Date: 15 December 2026
Venue: Grand Parade, Cape Town
Headline act: Black Coffee
Presented in partnership with: KFM
Tickets are available through Howler. Music fans can follow @gallo100festival on social media for further announcements and event updates.
As Gallo celebrates 100 years of African music, the message behind the festival is clear: the nation’s musical legacy is not simply history to be remembered — it is a living culture to be celebrated, experienced and carried forward.
