Cape Town International Jazz Festival  is possible one of the most loved events hosted in the Mother City – and this year’s lines up will feature exciting artists from all around the world. Leading the announcement is a timely tribute to Africa’s greatest jazz icon – and long-time friend of the festival – the late Hugh Masekela.

Celebrating his long history with the CTIJF, from performing at the very first festival in 2000, to his many on-stage appearances over the years, this emotional tribute, “The Boy’s Doin’ It“ A Celebration of Hugh Masekela’s Life & Music, is endorsed by the Masekela family.

Concluding the 2018 line-up are emerging global artists Tank and the Bangas (USA), Masego (USA) and South Africa’s own Black Motion (SA), offering a mixture of fresh and influential sounds and incredible live performances. According to Festival Director, Billy Domingo, this year’s line up will showcase diverse cultures and musical styles that will reveal the complexity of music.

“This year it is only natural that we pay tribute to the great Bra Hugh, and I am especially proud of the celebration the Masekela family have put together to honour his incredible legacy,”  he adds. Few African musicians have captured the essence of the continent’s sound as Masekela.

Whether he was breathing life into poignant heritage jazz or collaborating with rising, young stars, this legend created timeless music which resonated with young and old. This tribute will revisit the work of this remarkable showman. Festival goers can expect evergreens from the Masekela songbook – township anthems that carry the weight of our history but live on to convey the abundant joy of Afro fusion.

CTIJF will take place between the 23 and 25 of March 2018, at the CTICC.  Visit www.capetownjazzfest.com for more information. 

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Lucinda is a hard news writer who occasionally dabbles in lifestyle writing, and recent journalism graduate. She is a proud intersectional feminist, and is passionate about actively creating a world which is free of discrimination and inequality.