It sounds improbable once the timeline is written down.
Guy Buttery first appeared on a Vusi Mahlasela record in 2006, contributing guitar and mandolin to Naledi Ya Tsela. Ten years later, Mahlasela returned the exchange on Buttery’s self-titled 2016 album, singing on “Werner Meets Egberto in Manaus” and “The Upper Reaches”.
Twenty years after first appearing on the same musical map, Vusi Mahlasela and Guy Buttery are finally turning a recording relationship into a conversation onstage.
Yet after more than two decades of musical connection, the two have never performed together live.
Until now.
Their first shared concert series begins in Cape Town in September, with a 17 September performance at Holy Trinity Church in Kalk Bay followed by shows at the Slave Church on 19 and 20 September. The second leg moves to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on 24 and 25 October, where they will perform at the Schlesinger Theatre at Michaelhouse.
The format is fittingly uncomplicated.
Both musicians are expected to perform material from their individual catalogues before coming together for duets and collaborative pieces. That gives the concerts less the feeling of a conventional package tour and more the feeling of two musical histories finally meeting in the same room.
Mahlasela’s voice and poetic songwriting occupy one of the most recognisable spaces in South African folk music. Buttery has spent his career expanding what an acoustic guitar can carry, moving through South African traditions and wider global influences with a fingerstyle language unmistakably his own.
The surprising thing is not that the pairing makes sense.
It is that audiences have had to wait this long to hear it happen live.
Twenty years after first appearing on the same musical map, Vusi Mahlasela and Guy Buttery are finally turning a recording relationship into a conversation onstage.
Reporting basis: Based on official concert information published by promoter Umoya through Quicket, Music In Africa’s reporting on the first-ever live collaboration, Guy Buttery’s official Bandcamp catalogue and album credits, archival credits for Vusi Mahlasela’s Naledi Ya Tsela, and Viranova editorial analysis of long-term musical collaboration and live performance.
Story index Key points, people & topics
Key points & topics
- Their recorded relationship stretches from Vusi Mahlasela’s Naledi Ya Tsela in 2006 to Guy Buttery’s self-titled album a decade later. This September, two South African musical histories finally meet onstage.
- Vusi Mahlasela and Guy Buttery have appeared on each other’s records since 2006. Twenty years later, the two South African musicians are finally turning that studio relationship into a live conversation.
- After recording together in 2006 and 2016, Vusi Mahlasela and Guy Buttery will share a live stage for the first time this September.
Frequently asked Answers from the desk
Who are Vusi Mahlasela and Guy Buttery?
Vusi Mahlasela is a celebrated South African singer-songwriter known as “The Voice”, while Guy Buttery is an award-winning South African acoustic guitarist, composer and multi-instrumentalist.
Have Vusi Mahlasela and Guy Buttery performed live together before?
The 2026 concert series is being promoted as the first time the two musicians will present their collaboration together live.
When did Vusi Mahlasela and Guy Buttery first work together?
Their recorded relationship dates to Vusi Mahlasela’s Naledi Ya Tsela, released in South Africa in 2006.
What did Guy Buttery play on Naledi Ya Tsela?
Album credits list Buttery on acoustic guitar for Our Sand and mandolin for Sower of Words.
Did Vusi Mahlasela appear on a Guy Buttery album?
Yes. Mahlasela contributed vocals to Guy Buttery’s self-titled 2016 album.
Which Guy Buttery songs feature Vusi Mahlasela?
Mahlasela sings on Werner Meets Egberto in Manaus and The Upper Reaches.
When is their first 2026 concert together?
The first announced performance takes place on 17 September 2026 at Holy Trinity Church in the Kalk Bay area.
When are the Slave Church concerts?
They perform at the Slave Church in Cape Town on 19 and 20 September 2026.
How much are tickets for the Slave Church shows?
Quicket lists tickets from R450 per person.
Are Vusi Mahlasela and Guy Buttery performing in KwaZulu-Natal?
Yes. Their second leg takes place at the Schlesinger Theatre at Michaelhouse on 24 and 25 October 2026.
Credibility & transparency How this story is reported
- Content type
- News
- Verification
- Verified — multiple sources
- Reporting basis
- Based on official concert information published by promoter Umoya through Quicket, Music In Africa’s reporting on the first-ever live collaboration, Guy Buttery’s official Bandcamp catalogue and album credits, archival credits for Vusi Mahlasela’s Naledi Ya Tsela, and Viranova editorial analysis of long-term musical collaboration and live performance.
- Sources & context
- Guy Buttery and Vusi Mahlasela’s recorded relationship dates to Naledi Ya Tsela, where Buttery contributed acoustic guitar to “Our Sand” and mandolin to “Sower of Words”. Mahlasela later sang on “Werner Meets Egberto in Manaus” and “The Upper Reaches” on Buttery’s 2016 self-titled album. Their 2026 concert series is being promoted as the first time the pair will perform their collaboration together live, beginning with three Cape Town dates before two shows at Michaelhouse in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
- Image
- Vusi Mahlasela & Guy Buttery
- Primary source
- quicket.co.za
Edited under our Editorial Standards and How We Report process. Spotted an error? Request a correction or email corrections@viranova.co.za.
Human-written · Editor-reviewed · Corrections open
Filed by Viranova Music Desk for the Music desk · Cape Town / KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Published 22 Aug 2026.
Sources
Secondary material
Reported first by another publication or organisation, and credited here.
- Vusi Mahlasela and Guy Buttery are scheduled to perform together live for the first time through a five-date concert series in September and October 2026 Music In Africa accessed 22 August 2026
- Guy Buttery contributed acoustic guitar and mandolin to Vusi Mahlasela’s Naledi Ya Tsela, including acoustic guitar on Our Sand and mandolin on Sower of Words All About Jazz accessed 22 August 2026
- Vusi Mahlasela provided vocals on Werner Meets Egberto in Manaus on Guy Buttery’s self-titled 2016 album Guy Buttery / Bandcamp accessed 22 August 2026
- Vusi Mahlasela provided vocals on The Upper Reaches alongside backing vocals from Piers Faccini on Guy Buttery’s 2016 album Guy Buttery / Bandcamp accessed 22 August 2026
- Guy Buttery’s self-titled album was released on 29 February 2016 and credits Vusi Mahlasela as a vocalist on two tracks Guy Buttery / Bandcamp accessed 22 August 2026
- The concert series begins on 17 September at Holy Trinity Church in the Kalk Bay area before shows at Cape Town’s Slave Church on 19 and 20 September Music In Africa accessed 22 August 2026
- The Slave Church performances take place on 19 and 20 September at 19:00, with doors opening at 18:15 and tickets listed from R450 Quicket / Umoya accessed 22 August 2026
- The second leg takes place at the Schlesinger Theatre at Michaelhouse in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on 24 and 25 October 2026 Music In Africa accessed 22 August 2026
- The concert format will see both musicians perform material from their individual catalogues before joining each other for duets and collaborative pieces Music In Africa accessed 22 August 2026
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