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Tag: Jazz festival

  • Kanwulia’s Lagos tour ends at Jazz Festival

    Kanwulia’s Lagos tour ends at Jazz Festival

    In a blend of soulful tunes and vibrant rhythms, Kanwulia’s Amerikana Who’s That Girl!? Lagos tour reached its climax at the prestigious Lagos International Jazz Festival 2024. Hosted at the Live Lounge Victoria Island, Lagos, the event stood as a beacon of musical excellence and cultural fusion.

    Spanning nearly a fortnight, Kanwulia’s tour swept through Lagos, captivating audiences with her dynamic performances and infectious energy. From the lively media rendezvous at The Rhodes BBQ in Alausa, Ikeja, where she received her PMAN Work License Card from PMAN Lagos Governor and legendary African Female Drummer, Aralola Olamuyiwa, to the mesmerizing jazz ambiance of Scotch Bonnet Jazz, and the scenic waterfront setting of The Bay Lounge Lekki, her presence resonated at every stop.

    Highlights of the tour included an engaging appearance at the Umutu Jazz Immersion Show and a poignant tribute appearance at Freedom Park in honour of the late arts and culture luminary, Jimi Solanke.

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    Official meet and greets with music industry icons like Pretty Okafor, the current PMAN National President, and Collins Enebeli, father to ace Nigerian producer Don Jazzy further enriched the tour experience.

    At the LIJF 2024 showcase, serving as the tour’s grand finale, Kanwulia commanded the stage as the headliner, delivering a captivating performance that enthralled the audience. Other acts in the event lineup included the talented 10Strings All Stars Band and an array of guest acts like Ire, Chiamaka, Akan, Alessandra from Panama, as well as Inioluwa, Champion and Prince Charles. Special appearances by renowned DJ Jimbo and the Jazzahead Bremen Germany-bound AFRO4 superband added to the night’s allure.

    Packaged by the innovative minds at Inspiro Productions with support from the dynamic Volkano Productions crew, the tour and its LIJF 2024 Showcase underscored the transformative power of music and the enduring impact of Kanwulia’s musical prowess.

     As the final chords echoed, it was clear that Kanwulia’s tour had forged a lasting connection between music, culture, and community.

  • ‘Jazz Festival mixes pleasure, economy, arts and culture’

    The battle against illegal migration was part of the highlights at this year’s Lagos International Jazz Festival held at Freedom Park, Lagos over the weekend. The Creative Arts Coalition Against Irregular Migration (CACAIM) project, was launched by festival director, Mr. AyoolaSadare in partnership with PMAN National PresidentMr. Pretty Okafor as part of the festival activities. It is an initiative to address the growing concerns around illegal migration using different creative art disciplines. The initiative seeks to empower would be migrants and returnees by enlightenment and engagement.

    The seven edition of the LIJF with the theme, Music and Creative Arts Are Tools in Addressing Illegal and Irregular Migration Among Nigerian Youths featured a line-up of seasonedjazz artistes who participated in concerts, lectures, workshops, educational materials and exhibitions. This is the second time that the Jazz festivities have been domiciled in Freedom Park, which is increasingly emerging as a hub for the Nigerian creative industry.

    Sadarehas since grown the festival to be biggest event of its kind prior to establishing LIJF sojourned to South Africa to witness Cape Town Jazz Festival in 2005, as he thought this might help set the wheels in motion.

    To perfect this, Sadare’s arrival at the festival in Cape Town became the surest way to spur the vision. In fact, as soon as he set eyes on those personalities everything about Lagos International Jazz became a dream come true.

    The festival is held traditionally on April 29, in line with UNESCO approved International Jazz Day, which falls on every April 30 annually. This year festival, with three stages connected by walkways, witnessed who’s who in the jazz world that included Samuel Ayunke Nigerian international based in South Africa, SamDerry, Christen Kamaun Female Jazz Trumpeter, Waje, Orliam among others.

    He discovered that event such as jazz festival had been positively affecting South African tourism and creative industry. For Sadare, Jazz Festival is a mixture of pleasure, economy, arts and culture.

    “In Nigeria tourism and creative industries have not been structured and developed. We have to train our people, we have to develop them and engage them by adding values to them and hence we do that, the issues of illegal and irregular travel abroad will drastically reduce.

    We are asking government to give Nigerians the enabling environment by allowing us have access to soft loans, electricity and stable water. He however advised the youths to stay focused and know that in life there is no short cut.

    President Performing Musician’s Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) Pretty Okafor, said: “The creative industry practitioners are taking the advantage of enlightenment, engagement and empowerment to ensure we discourage the youths from travelling abroad through illegal routes”.

    According to him, creative industry is encompasses writers, filmmakers, fashion designers, sculptors, painters, musicians, graphic artists and comedians which has the largest labour force.

    “As it stands the industry can generate 15 trillion naira and with well-structured system into the economy, we don’t have to start taking loans from China and living in debt.  For instance, Kenya invited us last two years and we set up same structure which we have wanted to set up in Nigeria. Last year Kenya made 8billion from creative industry.  But, in Nigeria where we have more than 200 million people the government has not been able to pay attention to what the people in the creative industry are saying. They passed the bill because they saw the potentials. Creative industry as stand-alone can actually run the economy, “Okafor said.

    Continuing he said: “How can they look at an industry that worth this and is being neglected. The research has been done and it’s been audited and they don’t want to pay attention to it. We sponsored the bills and they refused to pass it.

    “But because we have this mind of getting the industry working and with this we came out with various programmes such as enlightenment, education and engagement. We need to let them understand they have opportunities to survive here. We went as far as engage them with local and state tours, teaching them every aspect of creativity industry for them to learn.  We engaged them to remove their minds out of poverty.  They are not looking for short cut to wealth but they are looking for short cut to get out of poverty.”

  • Jonathan Butler, Yemi Sax, others to perform at Satchmo Jazz festival

    Nigerian jazz lovers can get set for an exciting experience as this year’s edition of Satchmo Jazz Festival comes to town.

    The event which holds on April 30 at Oceanview Marquee, Eko Hotel, Lagos, features Jonathan Butler, Somi, Bobby Ricketts, Tunde Jegede, The Nomadic Mystics, HKB FINN, Cleveland Watkiss, Trio Ivoire and Yemi Sax.

    Satchmo is the nickname of Louis Armstrong, a legendary jazz musician, trumpeter, film star and comedian. He has influenced many musicians and he exerts influence beyond jazz.

    Satchmo Jazz Festival commemorates the UNESCO International Jazz Day which is celebrated on April 30.

    Also, a grand finale of the jazz performances comes up on May 3 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

    Master classes in music composition, voice and vocoder, poetry and performance open to young musicians were held on Thursday at Goethe Institut, Lagos. In addition, symposiums and the screening of three Jazz Films: Blue Note, Play Your Own Thing, and Last Song before the War also held.

  • Lekan Babalola, Bright Gain, others for Lagos Jazz Festival

    Lekan Babalola, Bright Gain, others for Lagos Jazz Festival

    Inspiro Productions, organisers of Lagos International Jazz Festival, has unveiled a list of performing acts for this year’s edition of the show. Tagged Jazz in the Megacity, the organisers say that the intention is to celebrate Nigerian Jazz and Jazz related musicians who play the genre of music in various fusions and with an indigenous flavour.

    Artistes for this year’s bill which runs from April 30 to May 2 at The Freedom Park includes two-time U.K.-based Grammy award-winning Nigerian International mega-percussionist, Lekan Babalola, U.S.-based multi – instrumentalist, Adeniji the ‘Heavywind’, Bass virtuoso and director of the SPAN Academy of Jazz and contemporary music, Bright Gain, veteran musician and classical clarinetist, Tee Mac, vocal sensation, Ego and neo-highlife musical icon, Nomoreloss amongst a long list of other accomplished and upcoming musicians.

    Festival founder and director, Ayoola Sadare said; “our dream is to make the Lagos International Jazz Festival not just another entertainment event but as one that adds value to both the Lagos Megacity as a tourist destination, contributes to its GDP and presents an international platform for our indigenous musicians. We believe that the festival should be one of the leading Jazz festivals in Africa in the near future and are working tirelessly to fully integrate Lagos into the global jazz tourism circuit. We are satisfied with our eclectic lineup of artistes who will be playing this genre and other related ones with traditional Jazz, Naijazz, Afrojazz, Fuji, Afrobeat, Apala, Highlife and Naija-Hiphop all represented on 5 stages aptly named after prominent Nigerian musical icons of blessed memory, namely Fela Kuti, Elder Steve Rhodes, Fatai Rolling Dollar, Osita Osadebe and Bala Milla.”

  • Bayelsa International Jazz Festival returns

    Bayelsa International Jazz Festival returns

    The much-anticipated Bayelsa International Jazz Festival returns with a sophomore, which organisers say will set the mood for the yuletide season.

    No doubt, the initiative is motion-in-progress for the Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency (BSTDA), which is using the elevated genre of music to sustain tourism drive to the Niger-Delta state.

    The maiden edition of the show had so much to remember, having featured an impressive line-up of world-class acts, including the revered South African jazz maestro Hugh Masekela and Nigeria’s Afrobeat King Femi Kuti, whose elevated performances doubled as tribute to the late African freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela, who died around that period.

    For a global music culture that is gradually being imbibed by the Bayelsa State people, last year’s show was a bomb, as Yenagoa was enmeshed in two nights of thrilling cymbals, trumpets, percussions, pianos, flutes, guitars and sonorous voices.

    This time, organisers said fans are in for more excitement, with a star-studded show that will feature Grammy award-winning jazz impresario, Earl Klum, among others. The two-day event will hold from December 12th to 13th, at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, Yenagoa.

    But beyond the razzmatazz, Director General of the BSTDA, Mrs. Ebizi Ndiomu Brown, stated that this year’s edition of the jazz fiesta will also offer music training to young indigenes of the state.

    According to her, the training will be conducted by professors from Trinity College of Music, the Alma mater of late Afrobeat precursor, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

     Mrs. Brown also hinted that an assemblage of experienced technical crew and stage managers have been hired to oversee the two-day event.

    According to Brown, who is a business development and project management expert, all hands are on deck to ensure the success of the jazz festival, adding that contacts are already being made with potential partners and other support groups, including the hospitality industry in the state to ensure a hitch free event.

    Also, the agency is expected to organise a workshop for the private sector on etiquette and ideals of customer service, she revealed.

    Mrs. Brown urged potential partners, whom she said will earn certificate of partnership, to take advantage of the windows, created by the festival, to promote and market their products and services to a wider audience during the event.

    Other artistes who rendered thrilling performances at last year’s event include, Somi, a Rwandan based in U.SA., Ego Ogbaro (Nigeria), Bright Gain (Nigeria), Gangbe Brass Band (Cotonou), Lekan Babalola and the Afro Jazz Messengers (UK).

  • Keyshia Cole, Asa for Calabar Jazz Festival

    Keyshia Cole, Asa for Calabar Jazz Festival

    Popular R and B singer, Keyshia Cole and Nigerian singer, Asa, are among the artistes billed to perform at the forthcoming Calabar Jazz Festival between Wednesday, April 18 and Saturday, April 21.

    Cole, a Grammy nominee, is well-known in Nigeria for her hits, I Should Have Cheated and Heaven Sent. She is also popular for her two BET reality TV series: Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is and Keyshia and Daniel: Family First.

    Asa returns after a performance at the last festival, where she wowed the crowd as switched effortlessly between vocals, guitar, trumpet and footwork.

    According to the organisers, the lineup of performers includes Hugh Masekela, Liquideep, Jimmy Dludlu, Micasa Music, Timotha Lanae, Gwyn Jay Allen, Dare Art Alade, Yinka Davies and Kunle Ayo.

    Dludlu, according to the organisers, is being brought back following a superlative performance in 2013. Masekela, who considers Calabar his second home, will anchor a special peace concert, which is a private event hosted by Cross River State Governor, Sen. Liyel Imoke, to highlight the killings in some parts of the country.

    “Having endured the horrors of apartheid, we feel it is fitting to have Hugh Masekela help us to highlight this disturbing new trend in some parts of our beloved country, even as we search for solutions. We must never forget the victims,” said Imoke.

    The Calabar Jazz Festival offers a great Easter weekend break for Nigerians who are looking for an opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of the cities.

    The organisers further revealed that there would be fun day-time activities and tours for all families and VIP after-party, among others.

  • Bayelsa holds maiden edition of International Jazz festival

    Bayelsa holds maiden edition of International Jazz festival

    The Director General of Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency Mrs Ebizi Ndiomu Brown on Friday at a press briefing held at the Jazzhole, Ikoye Lagos unveiled the artistes for the forthcoming international Jazz Festival bill to hold on the 7th of December, 2013, and the reason the state is playing host to the musical concert.

    According to Mrs Brown, “This event which is expected to hold at the newly renovated ultra­modern cultural centre in Yenagoa on the 7th of December 2013 is packaged by the Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency on behalf of the state government. We are involved in this project because music generally provides a veritable platform for the achievement of our set objectives.There is no gainsaying that Jazz music provides the needed ambience for the promotion of sustainable and responsible tourism in Bayelsa State.

    “Master classes and Arts Journalism classes will be included as part of the Jazz festival which would start on the 3rd of December, 2013. Details will be explained by Ayoola Sadare of Inspiro Productions.Events such as the Bayelsa International Jazz Festival will open the doors to tourists and Jazz music enthusiasts to savour the beauty and serenity that we enjoy in Bayelsa State”, she added

    She further expressed, “Besides, the Jazz music festival in Bayelsa State aligns with the cardinal objectives of our amiable Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson in developing alternative sources of revenue generation in the state. As a visionary leader, Governor Dickson is looking beyond the present oil revenue sources to more sustainable sources of income generation like tourism and agriculture. The choice of tourism, you will agree is deliberate given our rich cultural heritage and beautiful topography. We are proud of our festivals and the exquisite beaches that are spread across the state. When visitors come to Bayelsa because of our Jazz Festival we also have several offerings for them on the table to enjoy. Already, our people are eager to receive our guests because we are in the forefront of championing a new wave in responsible tourism development”.

  • Jazz festival at Muson

    Jazz festival at Muson

    After a successful jazz/highlife session that had two of Nigeria’s legendary and iconic musicians – Victor Uwaifo and Victor Olaiya – perform on stage at the MUSON Jazz Festival 2011, Midwestern Oil and Gas, an indigenous company, is putting their weight behind the MUSON Jazz Festival 2012.

    The event will feature an all- Nigerian line-up of international and home-based jazz and jazz related (NAIJAZZ) musicians playing at two shows (3pm and 7pm) on  Saturday, October 20 at the Shell Nigeria Hall, MUSON Centre.

    The artistes include South Africa- based guitarist (Ayodele – the tungba jazz master), South Africa- based bassist Mike Ebere, Germany-based Piano Virtuoso – Dapo Dina, El Jazz – the blues guitar maestro, Saxtee – the Saxologist, Victor Ademofe – Trumpeter Extraordinaire and Adesua – the eclectic jazz vocalist. Jazz Festival is part of the annual MUSON festival and is powered by Inspiro productions.