Born in Tembisa, South Africa, Kabelo Boy Mokhatla is a playful yet socially conscious drummer, composer, and bandleader whose music fuses the warm sounds of home with experimental jazz. His sound world evokes the intimacy of Erik Satie, the spiritual urgency of Zim Ngqawana, and the fire of Albert Ayler. Currently completing his Master’s in Jazz Percussion at the Manhattan School of Music (NYC) under the mentorship of Obed Calvaire, Mokhatla has already appeared on international stages such as NPR’s Tiny Desk (with Nduduzo Makhathini Trio) and the North Sea Jazz Festival.

Mokhatla’s compositions are deeply personal, balancing vulnerability with power. He describes his mission as “creating music that lifts the soul, transforms space, and radiates hope.” His performances invite listeners to engage with honesty, reflection, and the possibility of healing through sound.

His drumming and compositions are shaped by a wide lineage: the rhythmic clarity of Max Roach, the spiritual drive of Elvin Jones, the storytelling of Brian Blade, the searching sound of Albert Ayler, and the freedom of Zim Ngqawana. Mokhatla carries these influences into his own voice, merging improvisation with South African heritage and global jazz languages.

Mokhatla’s debut album The Key to Authenticity (2023) was nominated for four Mzantsi Jazz Awards and praised for its originality and “warm sound of home.” His follow-up EP, Dot Series, expands his sonic palette with atmospheric textures and healing soundscapes. Both projects feature collaborations with leading international artists and have been celebrated in South Africa, Europe, and the United States.

A Hugh Masekela Heritage Scholar at Manhattan School of Music, Mokhatla has studied with Kendrick Scott, John Riley, and Jaleel Shaw, among others. He has performed at prestigious venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club, Blue Note Tokyo, The Jazz Gallery, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and Birdland Hamburg. Festival appearances include Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, Cape Town Jazz Festival, Ljubljana Jazz Festival, Northern Cadence Jazz Series, and Umbokodo Jazz Festival. He has shared the stage with Nduduzo Makhathini, Ingrid Jensen, Jon Benitez, Ernest Dawkins, Linda Sikhakhane, and Terri Lyne Carrington.

Mokhatla is currently preparing his forthcoming album What Does It Mean, a meditation on ambiguity, beauty, and the power of not knowing. Through this project, he seeks to hold space for uncertainty—where curiosity, rather than clarity, reveals the deeper truths of human experience.