Double 21st celebration for Cape Town’s iconic Jazz Festival

THE Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) will celebrate its 21st edition on May 3 and 4 this year.

Also celebrating a major 21st milestone is the eCommerce platform Loot. co.za (Loot), which will be leading the pack of festival sponsors and partners.

For Loot CEO Shakeerah Diedericks, it was a no-brainer for the company to get involved as the prominent partner at Africa’s biggest multi-stage jazz fest.

“As the official presenting and merchandise partner celebrating our 21st anniversary at the same time as the CTIJF is celebrating its 21st staging, we felt there was a strong synergy in making this an even more memorable occasion for both of us, and our fans,” she said.

Diedricks shared that Loot will also be offering products on show nights, from across its platform and at 2003 prices, some as low as R21 and others at massive discounts. Touch screens will be on site and festival goers will get first pick at the offers from a curated shop of goodies (including TVs and household appliances) only for the CTIJF.

The CTIJF has an illustrious history with serious global street cred, not only among the patrons, known as Festinos, who frequent the festival from all over the world, but its line-up of artists that represent jazz’s heritage and future. The festival also has the kudos for presenting the biggest spread of international artists.

Brands that have connected with the festival in its 21st iteration are as diverse as the 31 artists /groups who will grace the four re-imagined stages.

Other partners include the City of Cape Town as official host city; Paramount Pictures, whose BET Africa brand will be keeping an eager eye out for fashion-forward-Festinos; SAA, which has come to the party with a package to help fans take flight; and Stella Artois and PenBev, which will help hydrate thirsty Festinos.

Headset Solutions and digital gateway Ozow are also in the mix. Orleans Cosmetics and Fabiani will on hand to keep VIP fans feeling and looking “absolutely fabulous”, with Conde Nast’s Glamour and GQ titles on the lookout for tomorrow’s style setters. Raymond Weil watches will mark the time.

The festival organisers are grateful to all the media who have welcomed the festival’s return, especially Independent Media, Heart FM, IOL, Africa Community Media, Volt Africa, and Magic 828.

espAfrika, organisers of the CTIJF, said: “As we have said in the past, there is an African adage that goes along the lines of ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, and so it is with this festival. The CTIJF is a success for so many reasons, not least because of the experience our Festinos enjoy and their loyalty over the years but also because of our partners and the smart brands who recognise the value in what we do and how it can add value.”

Artists have benefited too. Some whose careers have blossomed since performing at the festival include Lira, Freshlyground, Black Coffee, Simphiwe Dana, Thandiswa Mazwai, Shekhinah, Jonathan Rubain, Goldfish, Goodluck, The Soil, Makifkizolo, the late AKA, YoungstaCPT, Beatenberg, The Brother Moves On, and Sho Madjozi.

With 2024’s eclectic, energetic, topclass billing, the CTIJF is not only back, but it’s sending a strong message – “we’re here to stay and we have the clout and support to keep going. We’re not going anywhere but up”.

The presenting partner announcement was made to chime in with the official 21-daycountdown to the 21st Cape Town International Jazz Festival, which began 12 April. A second round of artists and the programme were announced last week with a few more to go.

For more information about artists, and other CTIJF-related news, tune into the website on www.capetownjazzfest. com, download the new app (Cape Town Jazz Festival) or follow social media.