By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Organisers of Victoria Falls International Jazz Festival have announced the return of the event next year on 8 April at Cotton Club formerly Rest Camp.
A brainchild of veteran drummer and music promoter — Sam Mataure — the festival had been shelved in the last three years due to Covid-19.
However, Mataure said it was now time to resuscitate the festival whose theme is “Tributes and Memories” and also called on sponsors to come on board.
About the theme, Mataure said: “This is because we are basically reliving the memories and also paying tribute to all those who have supported the growth of jazz music in music. There are so many names that have worked hard to ensuring that jazz music is alive in Zimbabwe and it is only right to honour them while they are still alive.”
Mataure said the one-day festival will be as eventful as it comes considering the line-up of performing artists as well as other activities that best suit a weekend of jazz, golf, game drives and sunset cruise.
“The good thing about Victoria Falls is that we can do jazz yes, then break and go on game drives and sunset cruises.
“The event starts with golf those who want to play can indulge then we go for music and then the old skool DJs will play music on the boat cruise,” Mataure said.
The venue — Cotton Club — has beautiful gardens something that adds on to the ambience of jazz music.
“It is a nice venue and central as well as accessible. And because of other costs that come in Victoria Falls like transport and accommodation we are going to make the festival very affordable,” he said.
“The idea is to grow the festival every year just like the Cape Town Jazz Festival which I have performed at least 10 times with different artists. Cape Town Jazz Festival draws huge numbers and I think the Victoria Falls International Jazz Festival can achieve the same thing with time when people travel for jazz to enjoy music by big artists.”
Featured artists are some of Mataure’s friends the likes of Louis Mhlanga, Tanga WekwaSando, Cool Crooners, Steve Dyer, AfroRed, Brian Paul, Feli Nandi, Richie Lopez now in Malawi, Zamajobe, Paul Lunga, Ava Rogers, Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana, Jazz Invitation, Hugh Masekela band, Wanny Angara from Honduras, Bernard Ayisa from Ghana and Jimmy Dludlu.
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