It was a night of good music and spectacular performances by musicians at the 2019 edition of the Lagos International Jazz Festival (LIJF).
Themed ‘Music & The Creative Arts As Tools To Address The Dangers And Perils Of Illegal/Irregular Mass Migration’, the much-talked show was organised by Inspiro productions in partnership with Sloweganzi.
Guests at the event that night also witnessed the launch of CACAIM also excited guests as many expressed delight at the bold effort of the event organiser, Ayoola Sadare, to address the problems of illegal immigration through art disciplines.
We need national meeting to settle Nigeria’s national identity now —Obasanjo
The event, which held at the Freedom Park, Lagos, recently, was also used to announce plans for the International Jazz Day 2020, which will be held in Africa for the first time in Cape Town, South Africa on April 30, and that the delegation that would represent Nigeria at the event is presently been determined.
Several events preceded this year’s festival, the most memorable was the Loud Beach festival at Oniru beach and the Umutu Jazz Immersion show, held at Umutu Italian restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos.
On stage of the festival were Jazz-related musicians as David Freisen – an accomplished veteran jazz bassist from the US – who played alongside Nigeria’s Bright Gain on the duo’s latest work entitled ‘View Point of View’.
The song will be released under Origin Records, USA, in November 2019. Award-winning Kenyan trumpeter, Christine Kamau, showed dexterity in performance switching between her trumpet playing, singing and piano play, while Johannesburg-based Nigerian guitarist, Sam Ayunke, performed hit songs from his repertoire.
Other popular musicians also performed in a fashion, especially the winner of the individual category of the recently concluded African Drum Festival in Abeokuta, Aimad Kachna of Morocco.
In line with the festival’s theme, LIJF festival director, Sadare in partnership with Pretty Okafor, PMAN National President, representing the Creative Sectorr launched the CACAIM Project – (Creative Arts Coalition Against Irregular Migration), stated that the initiative was out to help would-be migrants and returnees by enlightenment, engagement and empowerment programmes.
and then