The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is an annual music festival held in Cape Town, South Africa. The first one was held in 2000 to 2005 and is recognized as the fourth largest jazz festival in the world and the largest jazz festival on the African continent. The festival was called the "Cape Town North Sea Jazz Festival" due to its association with the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands. In 2006, businessman Iqbal Survé's Sekunjalo Investments took control of espAfrika, the company that hosts the festival.

History

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival started in 2000 as part of the North Sea Jazz Festival. This was part of an arrangement that came about as a result of the partnership between (a South African events management company founded by Rashid Lombard) and Mojo Concerts BV, the founders of the Dutch North Sea Jazz Festival. It was the first time that a jazz festival with four simultaneous legs took place in South Africa. The festival occurred ever year until 2005 as the North Sea Jazz Festival. Thereafter, from 2005 onwards, the festival was renamed to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival due to the partnership failing. The festival has grown since it first started in 2000, and as a result, attendance has also grown from 14,000 concert goers in 2000 to 34,000 concert goers in 2013. From its inception to 2003, the event was held at the Good Hope Centre but it outgrew the venue, so from 2004, the festival has since been hosted at the CTICC.

Lawsuit In 2000, the North Sea Jazz Festival came to Cape Town, South Africa for the first time. From 2000 to 2005, the festival was marketed as the North Sea Jazz Festival as part of a contract between and Mojo Concerts. The plan was for Mojo Concerts to provide the necessary infrastructure for a world class African Jazz Festival, so as soon as that happened, Mojo Concerts took to court. They filed for liquidation to consolidate a €500,000 debt that had been incurred over the 5-year contract. On 26 April 2005, a settlement was reached outside of court in which the debt was consolidated and was able to continue with the festival, now under the name of the "Cape Town International Jazz Festival".

Controversy

In 2019, the festival was sponsored by Iqbal Survé's cash-strapped Independent Media as well as the Survé-controlled AYO Technology Solutions, which is accused of unfairly benefiting from the Public Investment Corporation which manages the Government Employees Pension Fund, after a R4.3 billion investment that is under investigation.

Previous festivals The 2007 edition of the festival was endorsed by then Cape Town's Mayor Helen Zille. The 2010 edition of the festival contributed R 740 million to the Western Cape's GDP. For an extra R25.00 per show, music enthusiasts gain access to the Rosies Stage which features more relaxed, acoustic Jazz Music. Every year just before the main event, a free open-air concert with selected performers is held at the Greenmarket Square.

Cape Town International Jazz Festival by year Year Date Venue Performers 2000 31 March and 1 April Good Hope Centre Herbie Hancock, Youssou N'Dour, Courtney Pine, Moses Taiwa Molelekwa, Hugh Masekela, Busi Mhlongo, Interzone 2001 30 & 31 March Marcus Miller, Mal Waldron, Zuco 103, Sibongile Khumalo, Don Laka, Bill Bruford Earthworks 2002 30 & 31 March Spyro Gyra, Ahmad Jamal, Toots Thielemans, Andy Narell, Tower of Power, Louis Mhlanga, Judith Sephuma, McCoy Mrubata 2003 28 & 29 March Eumir Deodato, Isaac Hayes, Osibisa, Andreas Vollenweider, Jonas Gwangwa, India.Arie, Archie Shepp, Pieces of a Dream, Moses Khumalo, Floetry 2004 10 & 11 April Cape Town International Convention Centre Stanley Clarke, Miriam Makeba, Cassandra Wilson, Abdullah Ibrahim 2005 30 and 31 March 340ml, Cesária Évora, Bobo Stenson, Dhafer Youssef, Transglobal Underground, Dave Holland 2006 31 March & 1 April Miriam Makeba, Chucho Valdés, Freddy Cole, Louie Vega, Sipho Mabuse, Paul Hanmer 2007 30 & 31 March Average White Band, Gino Vannelli, Leela James, The Stoner, Saskia Laroo, Hip Hop Pantsula 2008 28 & 29 March Ananda Project, Gerald Albright, Kenny Barron Trio, Oliver Mtukudzi, Najee, The Manhattans, Zola 2009 3 & 4 April Mos Def, 340ml, Hugh Masekela, Freshlyground, Dianne Reeves, Maceo Parker, Peter White 2010 3 & 4 April BLK JKS, Rick Braun, Vusi Mahlasela, TKZee, Richard Elliot, Rachelle Ferrell 2011 25 & 26 March Al Di Meola, Angie Stone, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Herbie Hancock, Erykah Badu 2012 30 & 31 March Lauryn Hill, Mike Stern, James Ingram, Zahara, Dave Koz, Jean Grae, GoodLuck, Lenny White, Donald Harrison, Ron Carter 2013 5 & 6 April Ravi Coltrane, Steve Turre, Mafikizolo, Robert Glasper, Matt Garrison, Buena Vista Social Club 2014 28 & 29 March Kirk Whalum, Erykah Badu, Lalah Hathaway, Mi Casa, Black Coffee, Snarky Puppy 2015 27 & 28 March Basia, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Thundercat, Amel Larrieux, Ringo Madlingozi 2016 1 & 2 April Angie Stone, Cassandra Wilson, BADBADNOTGOOD, SWV, Lizz Wright 2017 31 March & 1 April En Vogue, Gretchen Parlato, Judith Sephuma, Soweto String Quartet, Digable Planets2018 23 –24 March Incognito, Simphiwe Dana, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Sibusiso Mashiloane, Manny Walters 2019 29 – 30 March 2020–2023 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.2024 3 – 4 May 2025202627 & 28 MarchCape Town International Convention CentreAbdullah Ibrahim, Jacob Collier, Yellowjackets, Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, Nduduzo Makhathini, Tutu Puoane, Jabulile Majola

References

External links Official site