Johnny Mekoa was a South African jazz musician, composer, and bandleader born in 1947 in Durban. He began playing the saxophone at a young age and went on to study music at the University of Natal, where he later became a professor. Mekoa was a prominent figure in the South African jazz scene and played with some of the country's most renowned musicians, including Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba. He formed his own band, the Jazz Ministers, in the early 1970s, which gained popularity in the townships around Johannesburg. Mekoa's music was influenced by the traditional sounds of African music as well as the improvisational techniques of American jazz.

Victor Ndlazilwana was a musician and composer from Daveyton, a township outside Johannesburg. He was a member of the Jazz Ministers and contributed to the band's unique sound with his playing of the pennywhistle, a traditional South African instrument. The Jazz Ministers became known for their fusion of African and jazz sounds and their politically charged lyrics, which spoke out against apartheid. In the late 1970s, the Jazz Ministers toured the United States, where they gained international recognition for their music.

Mekoa's contributions to South African jazz extended beyond his own music. He was a pioneer in promoting and developing jazz education in South Africa. In 1994, he founded the Music Academy of Gauteng, which later became the Johnny Mekoa Music Conservatory. The conservatory offers jazz education to students from disadvantaged backgrounds and has produced several successful musicians. Mekoa passed away in 2017, leaving behind a legacy as a talented musician, dedicated educator, and influential figure in the South African jazz community.