CTIJF and espAfrika Big names to bring home best of jazz
Hot line-up for ‘Africa’s Grandest Gathering’
THE Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) is renowned for bringing some of the biggest names in jazz and jazz-related music to the Mother City, while it’s held a bigger mission to provide a platform to showcase Africa’s musical talent.
Over the past 20 years, the festival has welcomed industry icons such as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Jonathan Butler.
This year, as the festival celebrates 21 years, the legacy continues, said festival director Billy Domingo.
“The CTIJF has always brought celebrated international musicians to South Africa, but we’ve also used the festival as a vehicle to showcase African artists. This year we’ll see renowned African artists such as South Africa’s Judith Sephuma and Femi Koya from Nigeria, Manou Gallo from Ivory Coast and the Kwetu Trio (from Nigeria and South Africa) bringing the best of jazz to the Mother City,” he said.
Multi-award-winning artist Sephuma has continued to dominate airwaves for close to two decades.
Since the release of her triple platinum-status debut album titled A Cry, A Smile, A Dance in 2001, Judith has attracted interest and acclaim from jazz, Afrosoul and gospel music lovers all over the world.
Gallo, born in Ivory Coast, is a virtuoso and her special talent is rich with the heritage of her origin in the Djiboi tribe. She plays the tambour, which is normally reserved only for men in the Ivorian culture.
When she discovered the bass guitar, she brought the knowledge with her, transforming it into a percussion instrument.
This year’s line-up will also bring top local talent to the festival and includes, among others, Nduduzo Makhathini, Mandisi Dyantyis, the Ndlovu Youth Choir, Gabi Motuba, and Aus Tebza. Makhathini was raised in a musical family, where his love for music began at an early age.
Dyantyis blends traditional gospel with new age Afropop to create an award-winning sound for jazz lovers.
His album Somandla was nominated for Best Jazz Album of 2019 at the South African Music Awards.
The Ndlovu Youth Choir, who won hearts across the globe when they appeared on America’s Got Talent in 2019, have been performing to soldout audiences on their first international tour.
Motuba draws inspiration from the likes of Gretchen Parlato, Esperanza Spalding and Concha Buika, while Aus Tebza Sedumedi is a vibrant, energetic and passionate musician, raised in Mafikeng.
General access tickets for the 2020 festival are on sale now at Computicket at R999 for a weekend pass and R649 for a day pass.
CTIJF 2020 award-winning VIP hospitality packages are also on sale, with two-day festival experiences starting from R2 999, excluding VAT.
Contact Samantha Pienaar on 021 671 0506 or email hospitality@ espafrika.com. Alternatively, visit www.capetownjazzfest.com/hospitality for more information.