Nile Gold Jazz Safari

Nile Gold Jazz Safari
Octobre
Serena Hotel
Kampala
Genre : Festival
Pays principal concerné : Rubrique : Musique

The Jazz Safari project was conceived by TShaka ‘TSbR' Mayanja (www.blackrootsunlimited.com) in 2008. He introduced the idea to his friend Elijah Kitaka the host of the popular Jazz Evenings show on Radio One every Sunday. TShaka named it ‘The Sizzling Jazz Safari'. (www.myspace.com/thesizzlingjazzsafari) and (www.facebook.com/jazzsafari)
Together they partnered and organized the very first Jazz Safari, which was held outdoors in the Ange Mystique Cark Parking Yard on 19th December 2008. The concert featured US Jazz luminaries Eric Marienthal on the Saxophone (www.ericmarienthal.com) and Oscar Seaton on drums. Others were TShaka (Bass), Pragmo (Piano), Henry Holder (Keyboards/Synths), Deziray Eric Bucumi (Lead Guitar), Michael Ouma (Acoustic/Rhythm Guitar) and Wakake Otieno (Percussions). The event was sponsored by Club Beer, Nokia - Midcom, True African, Radio One and Ange Mystique.
TShaka then approached several sponsors to fund the second Jazz Safari, as the vision is to have this event annually. MTN Uganda and Nile Breweries (with their Nile Gold Brand) answered the call in the affirmative! Later, The Vision Group (New Vision and Vision Voice) came on board as the Official media partner. The second Jazz Safari was dubbed, ‘The MTN Jazz Safari', and it took place on 08th October 2009 at the Kampala Serena (Victoria Ballroom). It was a full house! The show was fantastic. On stage we had; Chuck Loeb (Guitar), Eric Marienthal (Sax), Oscar Seaton (Drums), Matt Cooper (Piano), TShaka ‘TSbR' Mayanja (Bass), Pragmo (Keyboards/Synths), Wakake Otieno (Percussions) and Steve Oundo (Vocals).
On 28th November 2009, The Jazz Safari then moved on to Kigali Rwanda, again courtesy of MTN; this time MTN Rwanda. The event was held at the Serena Hotel Kigali Auditorium.
On stage we had BlackRoots UNLIMITED (TShaka Mayanja & Pragmo) backed by the Kenyan band GOGOSIMO. The show was one big party with lots of dancing, food and drink!

On 06th December 2009, The Safari moved to Nairobi Kenya, this time sponsored by Sierra Premium Beer (www.sierrapremium.com and www.facebook.com/sierrajazzsafari). The event was dubbed, ‘The Sierra Jazz Safari 2009'. The show was at the Nairobi Museum (Dr. Leakey Auditorium) and on stage we had US Jazz legend Gerald Albright! It was a fantastic show. Gerald was backed by Darlene ‘Twilite' Moreno (Guitar), Albert Burnett III (Drums), TShaka ‘TSbR' Mayanja (Bass), Arlington Jones II (Piano), Zak Amunga Omuyeshi (Keys/Synths) and Wakake Otieno (Percussions).
The Sierra Jazz Safari also had several Kenyan Jazz musicians performing in both the afternoon and evening shows. These included Aaron ‘Keys' Rimbui, Hellon, Kanji Mbugua, Maia van Lekow, Eddie Grey and others.

THE VISION
The dream for the Jazz Safari project is to promote Jazz in East & Central Africa first and foremost, then to other parts of Africa. TShaka Mayanja started out as a Reggae singer/songwriter/producer, then moved on to promote stadium size Reggae concerts in Uganda for 10 years! These had Reggae legends like Third World, Aswad, UB40, Shaggy, Shabba Ranks, Buju Banton, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Papa San, Spanner Banner and others. This gradually made Reggae music so popular in East Africa, it's now the most popular and most followed genre in the region.
Consequently, TShaka wants to do the same for Jazz and Funk music; make it mainstream music in the region. Through The Jazz Safari tours, we hope to achieve this goal.

THE FUTURE
The Jazz Safari in conjunction with various music schools, is going to facilitate Jazz studies in East Africa. This is the only way Jazz will be sustained in this region; having many youth learning instruments and the theory of music.
Legendary guitarist Chuck Loeb has already started a Foundation/project that is going to collect musical instruments from various US and European musicians.
These will be shipped out and distributed to the students in the music schools FOR FREE! Eric Marienthal, Oscar Seaton and Gerald Albright have all joined us in spreading the word.
We shall also have Jazz Clinics every year and in every country where the Jazz Safari will be.

Partenaires

  • Arterial network
  • Media, Sports and Entertainment Group (MSE)
  • Gens de la Caraïbe
  • Groupe 30 Afrique
  • Alliance Française VANUATU
  • PACIFIC ARTS ALLIANCE
  • FURTHER ARTS
  • Zimbabwe : Culture Fund Of Zimbabwe Trust
  • RDC : Groupe TACCEMS
  • Rwanda : Positive Production
  • Togo : Kadam Kadam
  • Niger : ONG Culture Art Humanité
  • Collectif 2004 Images
  • Africultures Burkina-Faso
  • Bénincultures / Editions Plurielles
  • Africiné
  • Afrilivres

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