Mandisi Dyantyis is a multi award-winning artist, composer, arranger and producer who unites the Jazz idiom with Western Classical and African indigenous music. Known for his electrifying sold out performances, Mandisi is one of the leading Artists in modern South African music. He is a prolific composer for film, stage and television.

Born and raised in Gqeberha, Mandisi grew up singing in church and began playing the trumpet at age 8. He attended the University of Cape Town, where he joined the institution’s Big Band. In 2005, Mandisi emerged from the University of Cape Town with a BMus Honors Degree in Jazz Studies. In 2024, he earned his Masters degree with distinction. Mandisi has performed with acclaimed musicians including Jimmy Dludlu, the Abdullah Ibrahim Big Band, Robbie Jansen, Max Vidima and Moreira Chonguiça.

Since 2006, he has toured the world with the Isango Ensemble Theatre Company, for which he is an associate director and musical director. He was nominated for a NAACP Award (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, Los Angeles) for Best Musical Director. In 2010, Mandisi was the Artist in Residence at the New York University Drama School. 2018 marked the release of his debut album Somandla, followed by Cwaka in 2021.

In 2022, Mandisi was featured as one of six South African artists on a MultiChoice Origins campaign which was televised and featured at the Johannesburg Festival. In the same year, he lectured and curated stories with visual artist Nelson Makamo at Harvard University in Boston. In 2023, Mandisi was commissioned to write music for “Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story” a documentary about the South African rugby captain. He composed music for “Nina: By Whatever Means” a ballet inspired by the artistry and activism of Nina Simone. A passionate road runner, Mandisi has successfully completed races such as the Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon.

In 2021 and 2024, Mandisi was the only South African artist selected to perform at Herbie Hancock’s International Jazz Day Global Concert.