Nigeria, April 13, 2016 – Satchmo’s Jazz and Culture Festival, Lagos (SJL) is set to commence on the 27th of April, 2016 with an exciting tapestry of exciting events including festive threads of jazz (and nu-jazz) music, as well as jazz-inspired visual and literary artists.
SJL also has the mandate of UNESCO IJD to produce the International Jazz Day event in Nigeria, for the second year running. The event, expected to be the highlight of the festival – which encourages interaction between art, business and culture while providing non-stop excitement for all age groups – will be an exhilarating and magical experience for attendees, and it will hold at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, Victoria Island.
This year’s festival will also embrace fashion, film and spoken word events, and it will feature the 2nd August Agboola O’Browne Lecture. From the main stage at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, Victoria Island, and other venues, participating galleries, restaurants, and hotels, the festival will reach thousands of live attendees and visitors throughout Lagos, the nation’s financial capital.
It will also see an impressive lineup of international artists such as Grammy Award-winning Norman Brown, Rick Braun, Carlo Rossi & The Organic Jam and Jon Scott. Some of Nigeria’s foremost Jazz artists will also be performing including Femi Leye, Sax Tee, Imoleayo Balogun, Phebean and Godwin Strings.
In November 2011, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day in order to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe.
Led by Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General, and legendary jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, International Jazz Day is the one day each year that jazz is celebrated worldwide, bringing together people of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities in 196 countries.
In December 2012, the United Nations General Assembly officially welcomed the decision by the General Conference of UNESCO to proclaim April 30 as International Jazz Day. The United Nations called upon Member States to participate actively in the celebration of International Jazz Day in order to develop and increase intercultural exchanges and understanding between cultures for the purpose of mutual comprehension and tolerance. International Jazz Day, April 30, is recognized on the official calendars of both the United Nations and UNESCO.
International Jazz Day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts all over the world to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots, future and impact; raise awareness of the need for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding; and reinforce international cooperation and communication. Every year on April 30, this international art form is recognized for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity, and respect for human dignity, eradicating discrimination, fostering gender equality, and promoting individual expression.
SJL takes off with two Satchmo’s IJD Pre-Countdown events; the first on April 27th in partnership with Industry Nite at Oriental Hotel, and another the next day, April 28th at The Blowfish where attendees will enjoy live music and poetry.
The main IJD Countdown Event will follow on April 29th at Oriental Hotel. This event will set the stage for the UNESCO International Jazz Day Concert on 30th April 2016. The events includes film shows and spoken word events on April 30th and May 1st 2016 respectively.
It brings together some of the finest jazz artists in the world, including Nigeria, whilst creating musical bridges and platforms for the festival artists to share, teach and exchange in a recognized professional context.
