On 21 April 2016, the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Pretoria (UP) hosted a JazzUP donor event. The event celebrated the University's incorporation of Jazz Studies into its music curriculum and also launched the JazzUP Tshwane Festival, which will be held in October 2017.

The Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP, Prof Cheryl de la Rey, said this was an exciting milestone for the University and an important component of the institution's ongoing initiatives in curriculum transformation. She spoke about the history of jazz and said that it was inextricably intertwined with the struggle for freedom.

Performances were given by the Tshwane School of Music, CAFCA Music Ensemble, the Moss Mogale Unit and Vusi 'The Voice' Mahlasela, whose work inspired many in the anti-apartheid movement. A documentary clip titled Tshwane jazz: an African story, which explored the history of jazz in Tshwane and the African roots of jazz music, was screened. Guests could also view the works of renowned South African poet, painter and pianist, Charles Sekano.

Prof Vasu Reddy, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, said this was a timely event that put Tshwane, the administrative capital of our country and a diplomatic and political hub, on the musical map. He expressed his excitement about the JazzUP Tshwane Festival scheduled for October 2017 and said he hoped the momentum and support evident at the event would be built on. In conclusion he said that the 'soft power' of music and culture should not be forgotten and that the impact of music can shape us without our realising it.