THE 2019 edition of the Lagos International Jazz Festival (LIJF) themed ‘Music & The Creative Arts As Tools To Address The Dangers And Perils Of Illegal/Irregular Mass Migration’ organised by inspire Productions in partnership with Sloweganzi was a success.
On stage at the Jazz festival were a line-up of numerous upcoming and established Jazz & Jazz related musicians from different countries including David Freisen an accomplished veteran jazz bassist from the United States of America who played alongside Nigeria’s Bright Gain on the duo’s latest project ‘View Point Of View’ to be released under Origin Records USA in November 2019. Award winning Kenyan Trumpeter Christine Kamau showed dexterity in performance switching between her trumpet playing, singing and piano play while Johannesburg-based Nigerian guitarist Sam Ayunke performed some hit songs from his repertoire. The winner of the individual category of the recently concluded African Drum Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Aimad Kachna of Morocco, also made a cameo appearance and showed Lagos why he was crowned ‘king’ there.
On the second day of the event, the Bright Gain led SPAN academy of Jazz and contemporary music held their monthly JAZZ-A-THON show alongside the festival at Freedom Park. Other musicians who fascinated the audience included Nigerian songstress Waje, Afrojazz Super bassist Wole Jesutomi, the enigmatic Orliam and fresh revelation SamDerry & his group. Other lady singers like Bibi and Poshryna held their own too to the delight of the audience.
The event founded by event impresario Ayoola Sadare in 2008 held over twodays at the Freedom Park Lagos on 29 and 30 April 2019 (International Jazz Day). The event was also the climax of the annual April Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) celebrated globally.
“Plans for the International Jazz Day 2020 celebration scheduled to be held for the first time in Africa in Cape town South Africa on April 30 2020 with a high level Lagos International Jazz Festival delegation attending is being organised to represent Nigeria” said Sadare.
And Sadare in partnership with Pretty Okafor, PMAN National President, representing the Creative Sector, launched the CACAIM Project – (Creative Arts Coalition Against Irregular Migration), an initiative to address the growing concerns around illegal migration using different current creative art disciplines.
The event was supported by Sovereign Trust Insurance plc, PMAN, Lagos Tourism, Freedom Park, Pentagon, Action, Steady Pace, Latobak, NAIJAZZ and a host of media houses.
