Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2024
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF), Africa's biggest jazz extravaganza, is considered the city’s jewel genre event, offering attendees an exclusive window into this eclectic music landscape. We caught up with CTIJF’s spokesperson Kaz Henderson and the fast-rising, festival debutantes Kujenga to get the lowdown on its 21st edition.
The CTIJF has drawn participation from South African, sub-Saharan and international musicians, consistently attracting attention from people the world over who are intrigued by Africa’s unique jazz scene.
The Cape Town institution, affectionately known as ‘Africa’s grandest gathering’, is poised to make an exciting comeback next weekend, after a four-year COVID-19-induced hiatus. Four redesigned stages await artists and festival attendees as well as a new outdoor platform named Topaz, for a display of both established virtuosos and emerging talents from around the globe.
CTIJF began in 2000 backed by the renowned Dutch North Sea Jazz Festival, filling a void for jazz cats in Cape Town, a city with a rich relationship to the genre. The origins of its jazz scene date back as far as 1959, when legendary figures like Winston Mankunku Ngozi and Abdullah Ibrahim expressed their struggles and aspirations while championing civil rights musically.
For ESPAfrica, the event’s planners, CTIJF remains a perpetual dream come true. 24 years down the line, the event has come to symbolise a melding of jazz aficionados across cultural and generational divides.
Their close-knit team prides itself on the event’s longevity and its ability to showcase both upcoming artists and seasoned musicians, through their partnership with African Equity Empowerment Investments (AEI). A feat made all the more impressive considering the COVID-19-imposed closures of veteran festivals like Oppikoppi.
“One needs to have the support of future-looking partners and, particularly, ones who love the music, if you're gonna have a festival,” says Kaz Henderson, the festival’s spokesperson. “It’s a family who have put this together. We love this event and we’re on a mission to spread the gospel of Jazz.”
The upcoming 21st edition’s lineup, curated by head of talent Lindsay Rhoda, boasts nearly 30 artists, including the likes of Grammy award-winning American bassist MonoNeon and British drum virtuoso Yussef Dayes. There’s no shortage of fresh faces either and it’s just this that the spiritual jazz septet and festival newcomers Kujenga appreciate about the beloved event.
“It’s been amazing to see how many festivals there are dedicated to this music, especially post-pandemic,” says the septet. “There are so many talented artists in our generation who are writing and playing beautiful music that aren’t given as much attention as they deserve since improvised music is perceived as a genre for older audiences.”
“We’re really looking forward to making our debut at the festival, and catching the other musicians on the line-up who we’ve been following for years.”
The anticipation for such a culturally significant event has heightened considerably over the past four years. Set to the tune of the best of local and international jazz music, this festival is poised to mark a triumphant return.
CTIJF will take place on the 3rd and 4th of May at the Cape Town International Convention Centre for two days of the best jazz Africa has to offer. There will also be a free concert at Greenmarket Square on the 2nd of May from 16H00 to 22H00.
Tickets available here
Words by Neil Büchner Jr for Letterhead