The African Jazz Pioneers trace their origins back to the 1950s, an era when jazz thrived, and big bands dominated South Africa’s music scene. The band was founded in the 1980s by Her Excellency Queeneth Ndaba, who envisioned reviving the vibrant 1950s and 1960s South African jazz scene. Her mission was to recreate the joy and energy of that period's live performances, blending the big band sound with the traditional Majuba tempos and Marabi influences.