A sea of people moved in perfect unison, locked into the rhythmic glide of the popular Electric-slide. The dance is known affectionately across South Africa as the Step, Codesa or Bus. The vibrant crowd are dancing to Sipho Hotstix Mabuses timeless anthem, Burn Out. Even in 2026, this early 80s crossover hit remains a force of nature, pulling fans of all generations into a synchronised sway at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival CTIJF.
When I looked at the audience, it almost looked like theyre mesmerised, Mabuse says. Probably some of them, you know. Im just grateful that the music that I made in the past, a lot of the people who were there remembered that music. The performance was in a way different because I didnt think that the people still, you know, appreciated the music that I did many years ago. And I was like, wow! I was humbled by the response. When I saw the people dance, I was like, wow, this is amazing.
With over four decades in the industry, the veteran musician reminded festival goers exactly why his legacy remains untouchable, delivering a high-energy set that didnt just open the festival, but ignited it.
