Safaricom Jazz is just about back and this time, it will be happening on 5th November at Uhuru Gardens. The leading artist is Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca and Fatoumata Diawara from Mali. Fonseca made his debut at the Havana International Jazz Festival in 1990 at just 15 years of age.
Curtain raisers for the show will be the Kenyan afro-jazz band Shamsi Music who will bring in classics, afro-jazz, contemporary tunes and blues.
The international stars and their bands will arrive into the country in the next three weeks and will take some time to visit Korogocho, where the Ghetto Classics music programme is based.
Ghetto Classics is a community program in Korogocho slums that works to nurture youngsters through music. This they do by instilling in them the life skills that go hand in hand with the discipline of studying the art of music. This very noble course gives the children a positive outlook on life and boosts their self confidence and determination to succeed in life despite their backgrounds. Furthermore, the program also provides them with income generating opportunities. Ghetto Classics which has so far benefited from over Kshs.19 Million since inaugural Safaricom Jazz festival in 2014 has since its launch in 2008 benefitted close to 1000 youth from underprivileged backgrounds, with over 650 pre-teens and teens currently receiving music lessons each week.
Tickets for Safaricom Jazz are available at select Safaricom shops, the Michael Joseph Centre and via M-Ticketing by dialling 1511.