Kunle Ayo in town as Jacaranda festival comes to Byo
FOR the first time in its history, the Stanbic Bank Jacaranda Music Festival will hold a music workshop in Bulawayo today with Nigeria-born guitarist Kunle Ayo set to headline a Magitare Masterclass workshop in the city.
Undoubtedly one of Africa’s most celebrated guitarists, the multi-award-winning jazz guitarist arrived in the city yesterday.
The organiser of Magitare Masterclass, Tariro NeGitare said 30 participants drawn from producers, guitarists and persons interested in the arts are set to attend the workshop which will be held at The Oasis in Belmont.
“This is the first time that part of the Jacaranda festival has been held outside Harare. We hope that this is the beginning of a long-term relationship where the festival will duplicate these music workshops in towns and cities outside Harare,” said Tariro NeGitare.
She said this is not Ayo’s first time in Bulawayo as he has performed in the city before and considers it as his home.
Meanwhile, organisers of the Stanbic Bank Jacaranda Music Festival which is expected to run from Wednesday to Sunday have said all is in place for the event with a music conference set to be held over two days, beginning on Wednesday.
“This educational aspect of the music festival has become a very critical part of the annual event as it’s designed to avail those involved in the creative economy with an opportunity to meet and also learn about how they can effectively participate on the global scene as businesspeople in entertainment,” revealed festival director, Walter Wanyanya.
“This year, we’ll have speakers from South
Africa, Nigeria, Botswana, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe. Topics to be covered will include music production; intellectual property matters with a focus on music; how to effectively take part in regional and international festival stages and financial literacy classes presented by experts,” said Wanyanya.
He said registration of artistes wanting to participate in the conference is in progress.
From Friday, the festival will be held outdoors at the Old Hararians Sports Club where there will be live performances by the over 30 artistes who have been booked from the region.
“The line-up has been carefully curated to bring the most diverse presentation of music in a way that will see everyone finding it difficult to choose a single day to attend. We urge festivalgoers to clear their calendars for a weekend of celebration through music,” Wanyanya said.
The organiser said they are looking forward to hosting the event as they have not been able to do so in the past two years due to the Covid19 pandemic.
“We hadn’t been able to build our big festival stage in Harare in the past two years, so we’re looking forward to hosting music lovers over three solid days.”
Support from title sponsor, Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe, Wanyanya said has helped them boost the capacity and build momentum for the now very established festival. —@ RealSimbaJemwa