Operation Khataza

Operation Khataza is a dynamic eight-piece band rooted in the streets of Observatory, Cape Town, a neighbourhood that has long been a meeting ground for counter-culturalism, new thinking, and the restless creative energy of a generation in motion. Led by the enigmatic Farrah Khataza, a mystical character brought to life by singer/songwriter, guitarist, and selector Sanele Blaai, the band has been building a world as much as a sound since its formation in 2023. Operating under the slogan "Sonic Liberation Across Alkebulan" (Alkebulan being a pre-colonial name for the African continent), their sound is a captivating fusion of Afro-futurist nostalgia, drawing from Zamrock, South African jazz, kwaito, soukous, highlife, R&B, blues, and rock & roll to deliver music that is as political as it is celebratory: a weapon of love and liberation.

Since forming, the band has wasted no time in making its presence felt. A ConcertsSA-funded national tour took the Operation across Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town, and they have shared stages with acclaimed South African outfit The Brother Moves On, earning a reputation for energising and re-conscientising every room they enter. Now they prepare their highly anticipated debut album Vuka, an eight-track record due later this year, led by the first single Mantra, out 25 June 2026. Operation Khataza's mission is to awaken a generation: by (re)forming communities through music and smashing social divisions to pieces, the Operation carries its message far and wide, with a bold artistic vision and a sound that demands to be heard.