South African jazz legend Don Laka is opening a new chapter in his celebrated career with Invitation 2, the long-awaited second instalment of his revered Invitations album series.
Set for release on 11 September 2026 via Sony Music Entertainment Africa, the 24-track album arrives nearly two decades after the original Invitations, which was released in 2007. The project sees Laka bringing his distinctive musical language into a new era while staying rooted in the melodies, musicianship and South African influences that have shaped his career.
A new chapter in kwaai jazz
At the centre of Invitation 2 is Laka’s pioneering approach to kwaai jazz, his genre-defying fusion of jazz with South African sounds including kwaito, kwela and marabi.
The new album continues that legacy while exploring fresh melodic territory and bringing together a new generation of voices and collaborators. It is a project that connects different generations while reflecting the continued evolution of South African music.
The album also follows Laka’s return to the Sony Music family in April 2026, marking another significant milestone in his career.
“Joining Sony Music marks, a powerful new chapter for my music. I’ve spent my life honouring South African heritage while pushing boundaries, and this partnership allows me to expand that mission with renewed energy. The music coming later this year blends where I’ve come from with where I am headed,” says Don Laka.
A familiar Johannesburg story
The album’s lead single, “eGawutini” featuring Siphokazi, offers the first taste of Invitation 2 and revisits a story deeply familiar in South African culture.
The song follows the journey of someone who leaves home for Johannesburg in pursuit of a dream, offering a contemporary take on the classic “Jim Come to Joburg” narrative.
While Johannesburg and the nature of the dream may have changed, the underlying journey remains the same – leaving home, arriving in the big city and searching for a better future. Through Laka’s signature sound, “eGawutini” transforms that enduring story into a contemporary jazz-infused soundscape.
Taking the legacy forward
With Invitation 2, Laka is not simply looking back at a celebrated part of his catalogue. Instead, he is extending its legacy, bringing the sounds, stories and spirit of South African jazz into the present while creating space for the future.
Invitation 2 will be available on 11 September, with the album available to pre-add and pre-save from 21 August.
