FUNSHO AROGUNDADE
South African Award Winning Group Freshly Ground performing at past edition
On 27 May 2017, Lagos State will turn 50 years and this milestone will not go unnoticed by stakeholders in the Jazz community.
Inspiro productions, a leading creative industry promotions outfit and organizers of Nigeria’s premier Jazz festival, The Lagos International Jazz Festival (LIJF) and her partners, are rolling out their drums to be part of this year’s Golden Jubilee celebration of the state known as the Centre of Excellence.
This year’s festival is themed 50:50:50 JAZZ and it will have 50 Lagos Jazz & Jazz related musicians performing 50 Lagos songs for Lagos@50.
Inspiro CEO and Lagos International Jazz Festival founder/festival director Ayoola Sadare in a statement on Monday said, “we are excited at the progress Lagos State has made in the last 50 years. Lagos is Nigeria’s center of excellence, the melting pot of Nigeria’s various ethnic groups, Africa’s no 1 entertainment capital, the fifth largest economy in Africa among other achievements.
“As a first among equals in many respects, the state has every reason to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its creation. Furthermore the excellent strides of the current Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration with his Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment and Sporting Excellence (T.H.E.S.E.) vision is commendable and worthy of support and celebration. Lagos International Jazz Festival’s 50:50:50JAZZ Lagos@50 special edition seeks to showcase the best of Lagos in music and further establish the mega-city as a globally recognized Jazz Tourism destination and eventually make it the No 1 Jazz Festival in Africa. 50:50:50JAZZ is our birthday gift to Lagos and Lagosians as it turns 50.”
This year’s festival incorporates the Month Long April Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) which climaxes on the April 30 International Jazz Day Celebration.
LIJF has also adopted to support two charities namely the Downs Syndrome Foundation Nigeria and Sesor Foundation for Internally displaced people(IDPS).
The 50:50:50Jazz festival will be held between the 28-30 April 2017 with JAM venues and performing acts to be announced later.