Langalakhe Mabena
United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean jazz legend Paul Lunga affectionately known as “King of Jazz Horns” is set to make an emotional return to Zimbabwe as the headlining act at this year’s Zimbabwe Jazz Festival.
Organised by the Zimbabwe Jazz Community Trust (ZJCT ), the festival is sponsored by the French Embassy and the Alliance Française Harare and Alliance Française Bulawayo. Joining Paul Lunga as a headliner is visiting Swiss singer and songwriter NNAVY whose unique personal style is a blend of RnB, soul and Jazz influences. Her visit is courtesy of the Embassy of Switzerland in Zimbabwe.
Her powerful and emotive stage presence has captivated audiences widely including prestigious festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival and Jazz à Vienne. The festival kicks off in Bulawayo on 20 September, hosted by Alliance Française de Bulawayo, with an exciting line up of Paul Lunga, NNavy, George Phahlane, and Ngoma iNgoma.
The Harare event will be held on 21 September offering a solid eight hours of great music from 2pm to 10pm, featuring Paul Lunga, NNavy, Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana, Agga Nyabinde, Rhythmic Pulse, Steve Chikotie and the Hellenic Academy Big Band at Alliance Française de Harare.
ZJCT founder and Artistic Director, Filbert Marova, said: “Each year, we embark on a meticulous search to identify the most exceptional artistes who have demonstrated remarkable growth. Our “Back 2 Jazzics” weekly event and the latest releases by local artistes serve as valuable scouting grounds.
“For international artistes we were particularly drawn to Paul Lunga, a legendary trumpeter whose contributions to the jazz industry are nothing short of phenomenal. The Swiss singer NNAVY also captured our attention with her meteoric rise in the past year.
“Ultimately, our artiste selection is driven by a fervent passion for diversity and innovation within the jazz genre. We’ve meticulously curated a line-up that celebrates both established and emerging talents, ensuring a rich tapestry of sounds and styles that resonate with the heart of Zimbabwe’s vibrant jazz scene,” said Marova.
The ZJCT initiative is steered by a committee of both jazz artistes and jazz-lovers who aim to revive, promote and preserve the Jazz culture of Zimbabwe, providing quality entertainment and education, thus culturally enriching our country.
Established in 2016, the trust immediately set out to stage a series of high quality jazz performances, featuring both well-known and lesser- known hand-picked local jazz artistes to keep the spirit of jazz alive.
