Online Reporter
DANCING, singing, and an electric atmosphere where some of the world’s best musicians performed their hearts out, made the 2025 Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) an unforgettable experience.
The CTIJF roared back to life in spectacular style, drawing around 24,000 music lovers across three incredible days.
The festivities kicked off with a vibrant free concert in the City Centre on 24 April, followed by two electrifying days of performances at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 25 and 26 April.
The free concert left audiences thrilled with performances by The Ploemies, DJ Eazy, a seasoned Cape Town DJ boasting over two decades of experience, alongside the exuberant British-born, Cape Town-raised singer-songwriter Hannah Ray, the dynamic Andrea Fortuin, the much-loved Kwaito group TKZee, British acid jazz pioneers Incognito, and sensational singer Fancy Galada.
As the beats reverberated through the square, attendees of all ages soaked in the vibrant atmosphere, a celebration of not just jazz but the diversity and creativity thriving within the South African music scene.
The festival itself, affectionately known as Africa’s Grandest Gathering, reaffirmed its place as one of the continent’s premier music events, attracting a dynamic, youthful, and diverse crowd from across South Africa and from as far afield as Europe, the UK and the US.
The musical programming resonated with a younger generation while still paying homage to jazz traditions, creating an atmosphere that felt both electric and deeply inclusive.
Attendees couldn’t stop talking about the musical performances. There were also a number of artists being moved to tears by the welcome they received.
The festival’s head Shaakirah Adams, who led the all-woman management team behind this year’s event, said: “Our goal was to honour the legacy of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival while boldly stepping into a new chapter that embraces diversity, youthfulness, and innovation. — IOL.
