An impressive list of international and Nigerian artistes are participating in the second edition of the Calabar International Jazz Festival.
THOUGH it’s not yet December, revelers now have another reason to visit Calabar. The Cross River State capital, a destination of choice, is renowned for its scenic attractions, cuisine, lifestyle and the month-long Calabar Festival.
Happily, fun seekers don’t have to wait till December when the festival happens to return to their favourite stomping ground. The second edition of the Calabar International Jazz Festival, holding from April 18 to 21 is the perfect excuse to return to Nigeria’s famous paradise.
A roaring success when it debuted last year, the 2014 edition, according to Michael Williams and Nzan Ogbe, head of marketing and chair, local organizing committee respectively, is a significant upgrade on the last event.
The duo spoke at a press briefing held on Tuesday in Lagos to announce the lineup for the exciting Easter weekend.
Williams, who is also the Managing Director of the Cross River State Tourism Bureau, touched on the origins of the jazz festival and assured that people who make out time to attend this year’s edition won’t regret doing so.
“It’s more than music,” Williams reiterated, adding that, “There are activities for the day time and in the night time, there are lots to do. It’s a fun filled weekend for the family but at the heart of it is great music.”
Ogbe also recalled last year’s event and disclosed that organizers took it out of the Calabar Festival because it has its own niche market. Ogbe added that “We had an absolute blast at the maiden edition; we had amazing artistes that gave amazing performances. We have improved on what happened last year this time around.”
He assured that the festival is going to be three nights of fabulous music that will be capped off with a private command performance that is strictly by invitation.
Timotha Lanae, Jimmy Dludlu and Salvadore Sango, will take the stage on the night of April 18 while it will be the turn of Darey Art-Alade, Micasa Music (South Africa) and Kunle Ayo the following day.
Performing on the 20th are Liquideep and Gwyn Jay Allen while South African music legend, Hugh Maskela and diva Yinka Davies will perform at the private event to be hosted by Governor Liyel Imoke on Monday, April 21. He added that three more major international artistes that will headline the event will be announced soon.
But the show, as earlier disclosed by Williams, is more than music. There is Music Meets Photography where some of the country’s emergent creative photographers will take photographs of revelers against a backdrop of live jazz and local music. An art exhibition curated by Bolanle Austen-Peter’s Terra Kulture is also in the mix as are family tours, sampling local cuisine and after parties on the three nights of the concert.
Explaining the seeming high number of South African artistes on the bill, Ogbe said the Rainbow nation is Nigeria’s greatest tourism partner.
A number of representatives of sponsors and companies partnering the organizers also expressed their delight at being part of the project at the unveiling. Collette Odusesan of Viacom International Media Networks Africa, the parent company of MTV Base, Lere Awokoya, Brand Manager, Moet-Hennessy, EbonyLife TV’s Director of Entertainment and a representative of Jumia, which is selling the festival’s tickets, all affirmed their support for the jazz fest.
Two musicians, Salvadore Sango and Darey Art Alade spoke on behalf of artistes. Sango thanked rganizers for giving him the opportunity to return to showcase his talent on the biggest stage he has ever performed on in Nigeria – the Calabar stage while Darey assured on the quality of music that is going to be served jazz aficionados.
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