Plans are in top gear as
the city of Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, is poised to host the first
ever annual Abuja international Jazz festival in November 2013. Tagged AbuJazz,
the initiative is a partnership between the prestigious Abuja Jazz Club and
expert event management and Jazz promotions outfit - Inspiro productions.
A joint statement issued
by the organisers and co-signed by Jimmy Johnson Chairman – ABUJAZZ Publicity
Sub-Committee and Ayoola Sadare - Inspiro CEO, stated thus: “Abuja in
particular and Nigeria as a whole is strategically being positioned as a Jazz
Tourism destination placing the city firmly on the Global Jazz Tourism Circuit
side by side with other global Jazz festival cities like New Orleans, Montreux,
Montreal, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo, London, New York, Cape Town and Johannesburg to
mention a few. Our target is for Abuja to be one of the top Jazz destinations
in Africa in five years and the world in 10 years and ABUJAZZ is the vehicle to
do that.
We also believe apart
from providing top class entertainment through live Jazz and Jazz related music
performances it will help deepen the tourism realities of Abuja and Nigeria by
promoting sustainable and responsible tourism. The economic impact on big and
small businesses as thousands are attracted yearly is enormous and the
hospitality and other businesses benefit. The image of our great nation Nigeria
will be reinforced positively as patrons get to visit and see progress being
made first hand. Abuja is being positioned as a live music destination in
Africa. Other adjunct events as the development, training and capacity building
events held around the festival including the master classes, seminars,
conferences will help build, strengthen, regulate and sustain the Nigerian
music industry and create the platform that will help access all the resources
that will help sustain the strongly emerging industry both locally and
internationally.”
Furthermore it stated
that “ABUJAZZ as envisaged will be a good platform for our art practitioners to
gain exposure amongst their peers. Local acts will get to share with their
counterparts from abroad. Workshops will allow international acts to exchange
ideas, opportunities, experience and knowledge with aspiring local musicians.
It will also serve as a platform to discover new stars.”
The artistes for the
maiden edition are yet to be announced but will combine an eclectic mix of both
home-based, Nigerian International and International acts.
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