Johannesburg’s underground creative scene is preparing for a night where poetry will not simply be spoken — it will pulse, distort, echo and ignite.
On Friday, 22 May 2026, 9II5 presents the Johannesburg edition of the Make UBUNTU Great Again Tour at Collectors’ Collective Record Bar, welcoming the South African debut of Eon The Mod — an electric poetry outfit blending spoken word, live modular electronics and immersive sonic storytelling.
The performance marks the final stop of the group’s South African tour and promises an evening built less around spectacle and more around emotional connection, atmosphere and artistic intensity.
At the centre of the project is renowned spoken word artist and slam poetry champion Ewok, whose socially conscious poetry has become known for its raw honesty, political urgency and visceral delivery.
His words collide with the improvised modular electronic soundscapes of French composer and musician Charles Amblard, while professional sound designer and engineer Vincent Hoppe completes the sonic architecture behind the performance.
Together, the trio brings more than 30 years of combined live experience to Johannesburg, creating a performance space where spoken word transforms into rhythm, tension and movement.
A Tour Rooted in Conscious Art and Cultural Resistance
The Make UBUNTU Great Again Tour is not positioned as entertainment alone.
At its core lies a conscious socio-political vision rooted in eco-social justice, collective humanity and cultural reflection.
The project uses art as a direct participant in larger global conversations around identity, inequality, environmental urgency and human connection.
For Ewok, the Johannesburg performance arrives after intense preparation and creative experimentation alongside his French collaborators.
“It’s been somewhat of a week with The Frenchmen Charles and Vincent flying directly in to garage band rehearsals,” Ewok shared.
“We’re coming out sharp. At some point you have to say that you’ve done what you can and let it be what it be. This is that point. Here we go, here you come, there it is.”
The result is expected to be immersive, improvised and emotionally charged — a performance where no two moments unfold the same way twice.
9II5 Creates an Intimate Bohemian Experience
Known for curating culturally authentic experiences for Johannesburg’s urban creative community, 9II5 has carefully shaped the event environment around intimacy and sonic quality.
Instead of a conventional concert setup, the venue will be transformed into a residential lounge-inspired space filled with couches, rugs, plants, ambient lighting and textured décor.
The atmosphere intentionally prioritises closeness, conversation and immersive listening over overwhelming volume or commercial spectacle.
For 9II5, which has spent over 16 years building conceptual music experiences across South Africa, the event reflects its long-standing philosophy of activating spaces that centre authentic cultural energy.
A Supporting Line-Up Rich in Poetry, Soul and Experimentation
The evening’s supporting programme has been curated to mirror the multidimensional energy of Eon The Mod’s performance.
Johannesburg-based DJ Sithembile Mbonyana, performing as Funkedelik, opens the night with neo-classic soul and lo-fi sounds designed to create a warm and fluid atmosphere.
Acclaimed Soweto-born poet Maakomele R. Manaka brings his globally recognised slam poetry performance to the stage. A four-time published poet, Manaka has previously performed for presidents and represented South Africa during the closing ceremony of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Experimental electronic duo Freshly Pressed White Tees — PJ & Plonk — add live electronic improvisation that blurs the line between narrative and sound design.
Award-winning poet Xabiso Vili joins guitarist Zelizwe Mthembu for Xabiso, God & YU, a performance where blues-inflected guitar and spoken word dissolve into something spiritual, intimate and deeply human.
Throughout the evening, 9II5 resident selector RobthaBanka will hold the room’s energy together through carefully woven sonic transitions between performances.
Johannesburg’s Creative Underground Takes Centre Stage
As Johannesburg continues redefining itself as one of Africa’s most exciting creative capitals, events like the Make UBUNTU Great Again Tour reveal the growing appetite for experiences rooted in authenticity, experimentation and emotional storytelling.
This is not a night built around mainstream formulas or predictable performance structures.
It is a collision of cultures, disciplines and ideas — where poetry becomes electronic music, where sound becomes activism, and where art becomes a shared human experience.
For one evening at Collectors’ Collective Record Bar, Johannesburg’s underground creative pulse will speak loudly, honestly and unapologetically.
Event Information
Date: Friday, 22 May 2026
Time: 19:00
Venue: Collectors’ Collective Record Bar, Johannesburg
Tickets: R150 Pre-sale | R200 at the door
