Johannesburg’s Constitution Hill is getting ready for something special. Something that feels deeply South African. On 30 November 2025, the Mayonie Open Air Festival returns, and this year, it is bringing more than just a stage and sound. It is bringing a sense of memory, pride, and community back into an iconic space that has shaped our country.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Before anything else, Zakes Bantwini has a message for every soulful house loyalist:
“House lovers, your time is now!”
In association with Y, Zakes Bantwini presents Mayonie Open Air, an afro-house music experience celebrating the past, present, and future of soulful house. The festival will feature an eclectic lineup including Liquideep, DJ Kent, Mzaki, Mörda, and the full family of Mayonie artists. For anyone who grew up on warm basslines, Sunday-deep-house sessions, or the era-defining sound of the 2000s, this event promises a true homecoming.
Tickets are available now on Howler.
Mayonie is not the kind of festival you simply attend. It is one you feel. It is where generations meet through music, fashion, food, and history, all in one place. And in true Joburg style, it is loud, colourful, heartfelt, and rooted in who we are.
Hosted at Constitution Hill, a location that tells South Africa’s story with both scars and hope, the festival invites people to celebrate the past while looking toward the future of our cultural identity. The energy, the crowd, the fashion, and the nostalgia all feel intentional this year.
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The Spirit of Mayonie: A Gathering Bigger Than Music
For years, Mayonie has been a mirror of South African dance culture. From the house music that defined the 1990s to the experimental sounds that shaped the 2000s and beyond, Mayonie is where the evolution of rhythm meets the people who lived it.
This year, the festival expands its presence even more. Fashion steps into the spotlight, with a VIP experience curated by award-winning designer Thebe Magugu, whose work delves into memory, identity, and the stories woven into our culture.
And at Constitution Hill, those stories feel deeper. The venue is not simply a backdrop. It is a character. A place where the country broke, rebuilt, fought, remembered, and reimagined itself. Hosting Mayonie here turns the festival into a conversation between generations.
Zakes on Tourism, Culture, and Why Mayonie Belongs at Constitution Hill
During the media launch, you asked Zakes Bantwini what people can expect from this year’s edition. His answer was not about lights or smoke machines. He spoke about people, place, and purpose.
He explained:
“I am bringing people from all corners of the country to come into Johannesburg, to Constitution Hill, to support the businesses around the area. It becomes inter-tourism. People who have never been to Con Hill will see it for the first time and want to come back. They cannot avoid the history here.”
For him, Mayonie is a cultural connector. A way to draw people toward parts of Joburg they may not explore on an ordinary day.
He added:
“This place has history. And my own journey is 21 years old now. So we meet at a place where our histories connect. That is what makes the festival special. The venue, the lineup, and the stories we bring.”
When you asked about small businesses, he spoke passionately:
“We have many vendors, all local. You will see people from different neighbourhoods serving amazing food. Mayonie is not only about music. It is about trade, sharing, art, fashion, and the stories of the people who live here.”
A Day Where Joburg Shows Off
With no U18s allowed and a programme running from 12:00 to 23:00, Mayonie is designed for adults who want to immerse themselves in sound, movement, memory, and style.
Constitution Hill elevates that experience. The architecture, the wide-open spaces, the symbolism of the venue, and the energy of the crowd all work together to create an atmosphere that only Joburg can produce.
People will come for the music.
But they will remember the experience. The food, fashion, crowd, and the feeling.
Ticket Pricing: What Festivalgoers Need to Know
Johannesburg wasted no time securing tickets. Early Bird and Phase 1 options sold out quickly.
Phase 2 prices are now open:
• R450 for General Access
• R1 250 for VIP
The strong demand reflects Joburg’s hunger for cultural experiences that honour heritage while embracing modern expression.
More Than a Party. It Is a Tourism Moment
Events like Mayonie play a major role in Johannesburg’s visitor economy. Every attendee contributes to the local cycle of spending.
It is meals, transport, accommodation, parking, and vendor support. This also includes the foot traffic for neighbourhood businesses. It is exploration that leads to return visits.
Zakes summarised it perfectly:
“People will come for the festival but end up discovering the area. They see the history, the businesses, and the culture. That memory brings them back again.”
That is the true tourism impact.
Safety, Structure, and a Curated Experience
Constitution Hill maintains high security standards, with clear entry controls, a Right of Admission Reserved policy, and a strict list of prohibited items. No cooler boxes, no outside alcohol, and no U18s help maintain the festival’s curated and premium atmosphere.
Mayonie Is a Feeling. And It Is One Johannesburg that Knows Well
If you have experienced Mayonie before, you know the feeling.
The nostalgia. The bassline in your chest. Taste of local food. The warmth of the crowd.
The rhythm that reminds you of home.
This year, that feeling meets the legacy of Constitution Hill. The result is something powerful, layered, and personal.
Step Into the Culture. Experience Mayonie Open Air at Constitution Hill
If you love Joburg’s heartbeat, its rhythm, its food, its fashion, its history, and its people, then Mayonie Open Air is where you need to be on 30 November.
Support small businesses. Celebrate our heritage. Dance under the Joburg sky. Connect with a city that lives in all of us.
Get your Phase 2 tickets on Howler while they are still available.
Mayonie Open Air is calling. Come and feel the evolution.
