Zakifo festival to rock music lovers
THE Zakifo Music Festival, boasting one of the most multigenre global music line-ups gathered in one programme, hits Durban this month.
Zafiko promises more than 30 of the finest international music-makers from the UK, Jamaica, US, Belgium, France, Niger, Congo, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa, at a new festival site at the Blue Lagoon from May 26 to 28.
The festival will feature stages on the Blue Lagoon promenade, with a cultural area, food carts and stalls, craft beer bars, local traders and interactive installation art exhibits. This year’s line-up includes Damian “Jr Gong” Marley, reggae artist and youngest son of Bob Marley; Birdy Nam Nam, a DJ crew from France; South African jazz musician Ray Phiri. Local flavour includes Belgian/South African singer, songwriter Petite Noir; and Bongeziwe Mabandla, singer/ songwriter, guitarist and two-time Sama nominee known for his blend of urban-African folk.
Also featured are Thandiswa Mazwai whose music incorporates mbaqanga, reggae, traditional Xhosa rhythms, kwaito, jazz and funk; Bombino, acclaimed Tuareg guitarist and singersongwriter from Niger; and Belgian/Congolese rapper and hip hop artist Baloji.
Zakifo, which was was started by Jerome Galabert, Sipho Sithole and Andy Davis, is a member of Igoda, a music festival circuit that includes Sakifo Festival, Azgo festival, Bassline Africa Day concert, and Bushfire festival. Tickets (weekend ticket is R700) are on sale through Computicket. Only 500 tickets available. See www.computicket.com or call 0861 915 8000 or visit Shoprite Checker Money Market counters.