Jazz legends, rising stars to shine at Zimbabwe Jazz Festival

September is set to be a special month for Zimbabwe’s jazz aficionados as the Zimbabwe Jazz Festival returns for its 2024 edition. Scheduled for September 20 and 21, the festival promises to captivate audiences with a diverse line-up of both renowned and emerging talent.

Dubbed “Sizzling Rhythms”, the festival will unfold in Zimbabwe’s cultural hubs – Harare, on September 21 and Bulawayo, the “City of Kings,” on September 20. It will take place at the perennial homes of jazz in these cities: Alliance Française de Bulawayo and Alliance Française de Harare.

Organised by the Zimbabwe Jazz Community Trust (ZJCT) in partnership with Alliance Française in Zimbabwe, the event will offer a carefully curated celebration of the country’s vibrant jazz heritage.

In a press statement, ZJCT founder and artistic director, Filbert Marova said audiences in Bulawayo can expect electrifying performances from Paul Lunga affectionately known as the “King of Jazz Horns”, the captivating Swiss singer-songwriter Nnavy George Phahlane and Ngoma iNgoma. The Harare event promises an eight-hour musical extravaganza, featuring not only Lunga and Nnavy but also a stellar line-up of Zimbabwean talents, including Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana, Agga Nyabinde, Rhythmic Pulse, Steve Chikotie and the Hellenic Academy Big Band.

Lunga, a legend in the Zimbabwean jazz scene, will be returning home from his base in London. He is poised to enthral audiences with his signature Afro-jazz sound that has resonated with listeners both at home and abroad for over three decades.

The dynamic Nnavy, whose unique blend of RnB, soul and jazz has earned her widespread acclaim, including performances at prestigious festivals such as Montreux Jazz Festival and Jazz à Vienne, is also set to be a hit. Her powerful and emotive stage presence will grace the Zimbabwean jazz stage, courtesy of the Embassy of Switzerland in Zimbabwe.

At the heart of this year’s festival is ZJCT’s unwavering commitment to reviving, promoting and preserving the rich jazz culture of Zimbabwe. Established in 2016, the ZJCT has been dedicated to showcasing both well-known and lesser-known local jazz artistes, ensuring the spirit of jazz continues to thrive in the country.

“Our artiste selection process is driven by a fervent passion for diversity and innovation within the jazz genre,” Marova said.

“We’ve meticulously curated a line-up that celebrates both established and emerging talents, ensuring a rich tapestry of sounds and styles that resonate with the heart of Zimbabwe’s vibrant jazz scene.”

For years, ZJCT has collaborated with the Alliance Française in Bulawayo and Harare, cultural centres that promote dialogue between cultures and facilitate cultural, artistic and linguistic exchanges. To revive jazz music, ZJCT used to host a weekly event called “Back 2 Jazzics” (B2J), founded in 2016. At B2J, artistes were given the task of performing music by established artistes to deepen their understanding of jazz. Marova noted that B2J served as “valuable scouting grounds” for talent identification. — @MbuleloMpofu.