No fewer than 10 musicians will perform on Monday night at the 2018 Lagos International Jazz Festival dedicated to the memory of the late South African jazz icon, Hugh Masekela.
Ayoola Sadare, LIJF Founder and Director, told NAN on Monday in Lagos that the event would hold at the Arts and Culture Centre, Freedom Park, Lagos, to celebrate the International Jazz Day.
NAN reports that Masekela, also an activist, died on Jan. 23 in Johannesburg at age 78.
Sadare said: “It will be great pleasure to honour the late legendary icon, cultural statesman and father of South African jazz, Masekela, on our 10th anniversary.
“We are happy to honour the late icon on the LIJF platform. Masekela was an inspiration to the jazz community both locally and globally.
“Although he never performed on the LIJF stage, we believe we owe him a duty to celebrate him for his long and positive impactful life through music.
“Masekela’s spirit lives on through his music, which will be with us for a very long time.’’
He said that the artistes to perform at the festival had performed with the late Masekela.
He said: “They desire to honour him. They are: Gloria Ibru, Gboyega Adelaja, Bright Gain, Mike Aremu, Sharp Band All Stars, Orliam, Dede Mabiakwu, Dezign, Benny Paladin, Nathmac and a host of others.
“Adelaja was his band member and flat mate in the U.S. years ago. Gloria Ibru recently recorded a track with the legend before he passed on.
“Aremu played on the same platform with him several times, and had plans to have him perform at one of his Sax Appeal shows.
“Mabiakwu was an associate of the icon, when he used to visit Fela.’’
Sadare said that the event would be produced by Pretty Okafor, President, Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria.
He said: “The choice of Okafor to produce this special anniversary is also significant; he was there at the inception of the Festival 10 years ago.
“He was also at Masekela’s 70th anniversary celebration in Cape Town in 2009, and he feels it is the contribution he can make to honour the legend.”
NAN reports that the late musical icon performed at the opening of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
He co-created the Songs of Migration jazz musical, which explored the music of South Africa, Nigeria and South America and was staged around the world.
The 2018 LIJF is supported by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Freedom Park, Sovereign Trust Insurance and some other organisations.
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