Cape Town Jazz Festival on the horizon
REGARDED as one of Africa’s premier music events, the Cape Town Jazz Festival (CTJF) makes a return at the Cape Town International Convention Centre with a bumper line-up of acts on April 25 and 26.
Over 30 world-class artists are expected to perform at the event that is known to ooze musical creativity and cultural celebration.
The CTJF was initiated in 2000 and has drawn thousands of local and international visitors over the years, and this year’s spectacle is expected to include an exclusive world-first musical collaboration, which will be unveiled cl;oser to the event.
The timing of the event coincides with the weekend when Freedom Day will be celebrated (April 27) in South Africa, making it a fitting tribute to the nation’s hard-fought freedom that enabled the country’s musicians the opportunities to showcase their talent to the world.
The CTIJF was also a significant economic driver for the Western Cape. According to research conducted by North West University's Tourism Research in Economics, Environs and Society unit, the 2024 festival generated approximately R119 million in economic activity while creating between 444 and 1,200 jobs in the region.
Included in the 2025 offerings at the event will be new culinary experiences, which will include a diverse range of local and international flavours, and exclusive hospitality lounges: and luxury spaces.
On the eve of the festival, locals will get to experience a taste of the entertainment to come at no cost, which reinforces its commitment to accessibility and community spirit.
Cape Town mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, yesterday welcomed the 22nd CTIJF to the city’s shores.
He said the city had “such a wonderful connection with jazz in the country, I would even go so far as to say that Cape Town is the home of jazz culture in South Africa.
“So many incredible artists have come from Cape Town, there are so many talented up-and-coming artists in the city right now as well, so it just makes total sense that if we are going to celebrate jazz in South Africa, it has to be in Cape Town.
“It is a hugely popular musical genre with lots and lots of fans, lots of great artists and we are very, very proud to host it here in Cape Town,” said Hill-Lewis.
The first artist announcement will be in February, with ticket sales going live on 28 January via ticketmaster.co.za.
DAILY NEWS