Kenya Prepares to Host East and Central Africa’s Biggest Live Jazz Festival

In just two weeks Kenya will once again play host to some of the most recognised names in modern jazz, when stars from seven countries including Kenya take the stage at the annual Safaricom International Jazz Festival.

The event, which will be held at the Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani, will see artists from USA, UK, Belgium, Israel, Nigeria and South Africa perform alongside some of Kenya’s best live jazz bands.

“This event is about bringing people together to enjoy fantastic music and marketing our country as a destination for live jazz music, which is fast becoming a part of Kenyan music culture,” said Bob Collymore, Safaricom C.E.O.

“Kenya is beautiful in so many ways. We’re known world over for sun, sand and safari, and we want to add a vibrant arts culture to our repertoire. Our aim is to use the Safaricom International Jazz Festival as a platform for cross-cultural exchange in terms of music and culture, as well as to position it as a must-attend event for both domestic and international tourists,” he added.

This year’s line-up includes epic performances from three-time Grammy Award® winner Branford Marsalis (USA), Jef Neve (Belgium), Maya Beltsitzman and Matan Ephrat (Israel), Sons of Kemet (UK), Siya Makuzeni (South Africa) and Kunle Ayo (Nigeria) – who performed at the Safaricom Jazz Lounge in 2014.

They will be joined by two of Kenya’s most prolific jazz bands: Afrosync, and Edward Parseen and the Different Faces. The Safaricom Youth Orchestra, which comprises of gifted instrumentalists aged between 10 and 18 years, will open the show with some jazz favourites

Tickets are available at the Michael Joseph Centre (Safaricom House) and select Safaricom shops including: Sarit Centre, Galleria Mall, Junction Mall, I&M building, Village Market, Thika Road Mall, Nakumatt Mega and Nyali (Mombasa).

You can also purchase your tickets via M-Ticketing by dialing 1511 and following the prompts.

The tickets retail at Kshs.1,000 for adults and Kshs.300 for students. Children under 12 get in free of charge accompanied by a paying adult.

All proceeds go towards supporting the Ghetto Classics music programme.

The event is co-sponsored by: Hotel Intercontinental, KLM, Tamarind Group, Apollo Tours, Color Print Limited, Mo Sound, Embassy of Belgium, Embassy of Israel, Italian Cultural Institute and the British Council.