Plans are in top gear as the city of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory is poised to host a world class 1st Abuja International Jazz Festival, ABUJAZZ, in November 2013. The initiative to position Abuja as a live music destination in Africa is a partnership between Abuja Jazz Club and event management and Jazz promotions outfit, Inspiro Productions.
A joint statement issued by the organisers and co-signed by Chairman, ABUJAZZ Publicity Sub-Committee, Jimmy Johnson and CEO, Inspiro, Ayoola Sadare, stated that: "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".
The statement went on to express the belief that apart from providing top class entertainment through live Jazz and Jazz related music performances, the annual ABUJAZZ 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. 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", it read.
Furthermore organisers expressed optimism about the outcome of the maiden festival. "ABUJAZZ as envisaged will be a good platform for our art practitioners to gain exposure amongst their peers; it will also serve as a platform to discover new stars".
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
National Mirror