The Lagos International Jazz Festival (LIJF), also known as Lagos Jazz Fest, is an annual celebration of jazz

music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspe ...

and

culture Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups ...

that was founded by Ayoola Shadare of Inspiro Productions and takes place in

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until December 1991 fo ...

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

Festivity

Held since 2008, the Lagos International

Jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

Festival is a three-day event. The 2016 festival was split between a two-day standard edition held at Freedom Park, Lagos, and a one-day luxury edition happening at The Bay Lounge Waterfront,

Lekki Lekki is a city in Lagos State, Nigeria. It is located to the south-east of Lagos city. Lekki is a naturally formed peninsula, adjoining to its west Victoria Island and Ikoyi districts of Lagos, with the Atlantic Ocean to its south, Lagos Lagoon ...

, with both events commencing at 6pm. Musicians featured at the festival (either as guests or performers) include

Aṣa Bukola Elemide (born 17 September 1982"There's 'Fire O ...

Courtney Pine Courtney Pine, (born 18 March 1964), is a British jazz musician, who was the principal founder in the 1980s of the black British band the Jazz Warriors. Although known primarily for his saxophone playing, Pine is a multi-instrumentalist, also ...

, Freshly Ground, Beat Kaestli and

Grammy award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...

-winning artistes such as Lekan Babalola and

Jermaine Jackson Jermaine La Jaune Jackson (born December 11, 1954) is an American singer-songwriter and bassist. He is best known for being a member of the Jackson family. From 1964 to 1975, Jermaine was second vocalist after his brother Michael of The Jackso ...

among others. The 2016 Jazz festival incorporated in its programme Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) and International Jazz Day. Also, the 2017 LIJ Festival was celebrated in collaboration with the Lagos@50 therefore, 50 musician were invited including two indigenous fuji artist like Akande Obesere and Malaika were called to perform. During the event the founder of LIJF, Ayoola Shadare in his speech said one of the purpose of the festival is to honour the indigenous musicians as other countries do. The theme for the year is ‘505050JAZZ Lagos@50’, the theme is described as 50 musicians playing 50 Lagos songs at the Lagos @ 50, the event which served as a roundup to the Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), on 30 April, the International Jazz Day celebrated worldwide. And the celebration was held at Freedom park The 2018 Festival marked the 10th anniversary of the LIJF which was celebrated in the honour of the late

Hugh Masekela Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (4 April 1939 – 23 January 2018) was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who was described as "the father of South African jazz". Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and for ...

, the event was graced by great jazz musicians including

Saxophonist The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to pro ...

Mike Aremu Mike Aremu is a Nigerian Afro jazz saxophone player that draw from traditional Nigerian sounds. Early life At 8 years old, in Niger State, Nigeria, at his local church he started playing musical instruments. He was a member of the Boys Brigade ...

. The 2019 edition was dedicated to

Oliver Mtukudzi Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi (22 September 1952 – 23 January 2019) was a Zimbabwean musician, businessman, philanthropist, human rights activist and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Southern Africa Region. Career Mtukudzi grew up in Highfield, a ...

, an African jazz icon who died on 23 January 2019. He was a Zimbabwean musician, businessman, philanthropist, human rights activist, and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the Southern Africa Region, known as "Tuku."

References

External links

* Jazz festivals in Nigeria Music festivals in Lagos Music festivals established in 2008 Annual events in Lagos 2008 establishments in Nigeria {{Lagos-stub

Festivity

See also

References

External links