Thabani gapara brings dzindza nz tour to toitoi opera house, Hawke’s bay.
“a celebration of african heretage”
Saturday 1st November 2025
Thabani Gapara presents DZINDZA
“A Celebration of African Heritage”
Fresh from his nomination for Best Jazz Album at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards, acclaimed saxophonist and composer Thabani Gapara is set to bring his Dzindza New Zealand Tour to Hawke's Bay this spring.
On 1 November at Toitoi, Gapara and his band will take the stage for an evening of African jazz fusion that promises to be as soulful as it is uplifting. With a sound that draws on Afrobeat, Highlife, Mbaqanga, and Mbira – woven together with influences of funk, soul, and Zouk – Gapara creates music that feels both deeply rooted and joyfully contemporary.
“Dzindza is about ancestry and connection,” Gapara explains. “It’s a celebration of where we come from and how that lives in the music we create today.”
Presented by Little Stone in association with Creative Pwele, the Napier show follows Gapara’s world-class headline performance at Jazz in the Park earlier this year at Church Road Winery. His return to Hawke’s Bay promises another landmark night of rhythm, storytelling, and celebration.
EVENT DETAILS
Hawke’s Bay | 1 November | Toitoi Opera House Hawke’s Bay
Tickets available at: www.thabanigapara.com
From the first note to the last encore, the Dzindza NZ Tour is a vibrant celebration of heritage through captivating live performance building memories through the shared joy of music. Don’t miss your chance to experience it live!
Listen up.
“TELL a friend. bring a friend.
Its a true celebration of african heritage”
Thabani Gapara
Thabani Gapara Releases ‘Matunga’ Music Video Ahead of Dzindza NZ Tour
A highlight from his 2024 album Dzindza, “Matunga” is a dedication to Gapara’s father.
“Matunga is about honouring the people who shape who we are,” says Gapara. “For me, it’s my father, my family, and the traditions they passed down. I wanted the video to carry that same warmth and joy the song was born from.”
The release of “Matunga” builds anticipation for Gapara’s upcoming Dzindza NZ Tour, where he will bring a powerful celebration of African jazz fusion to audiences across Aotearoa.