Jazzy Africa joins world to celebrate International Jazz Day

Africa is arguably the origin of the rhythm and feel of Jazz music which was born in New Orleans in the United States 100 years ago.

The popular genre captivated the world leading to the designation of April 30 as the International Jazz Day by the United Nations in 2011 to unite the world to celebrate and learn more about the art of jazz and how it has become part of culture.

Out of the 195 countries worldwide holding events to celebrate International Jazz Day, 31 are in Africa and they are hosting concerts and performances.

The countries include – Algeria, Botswana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.

Each year, a city hosts an All-Star Global Jazz Concert and Havana (Cuba) was selected this year to reflect the city’s profound ties to jazz, UNESCO said in a statement.

“Hometown of renowned bandleaders, Mario Bauzá and Frank ‘Machito’ Grillo, the city and, more broadly, Cuba’s thriving musical culture gave birth to the Afro-Cuban jazz movement, inspired by a great mix of cultures and peoples across the region,” it added.

The All-Star Global Concert featuring more than 50 world-renowned artists will be hosted by American actor, producer, rapper, and songwriter Will Smith.

For the first time, the host city held a weeklong celebration with workshops, master classes, film screenings, performances and concerts ahead of the Global Concert.

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova said the celebration will “deepen respect for human rights and all forms of expression”.

Paris (France) hosted the global event in 2012 followed by Istanbul (Turkey) in 2013, Osaka (Japan) in 2014, Paris (France) in 2015, Washington D.C. (USA) in 2016.

In celebration of the International Jazz Day- Safaricom gives you the Kenyan Jazz All Stars Edition happening tomorrow #SafaricomJazz pic.twitter.com/vPcrYghDEs

— Muziki Kenya (@MuzikiKenya) April 29, 2017

All that jazz. Holland meets Ghana 233jazzbargrill 🇬🇭🎷🇳🇱 #nlinghana #orangeweek - thanks to Zosjamusic KLM NLinGhana pic.twitter.com/qU3Ehwvy4B

— Felix Lomans (@diplomans) April 25, 2017

The biggest Jazz/Fashion concert in Nigeria. Live at the the #RunwayJazz Eko hotel, Lagos tomorrow! #REDTVXRunwayJazz pic.twitter.com/5BbNqkNuIR

— #DareMeQuestions™ (@BossRicky01) April 29, 2017

Happy International #JazzDay! We're celebrating 18 years of local and international jazz greats, from Bra hughmasekela to KamasiW pic.twitter.com/uFk6WeiZxM

— CAPE TOWN JAZZ FEST (@CTJazzFest) April 30, 2017

Enroute to Mamelodi celebrating #InternationalJazzDay with Jazz lovers #GautengTourism pic.twitter.com/UyO65L3MPE

— 4EverJazz (@4EverJazzSA) April 30, 2017