Yes, the stage is truly set for another superlative show at this year’s edition of the annual Runway Jazz in Lagos.
The show, which is a harmonic fusion of Jazz, fashion and fine dining on a single platform, is the Nigerian celebration of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) International Jazz Day on April 30th of every year.
For two days, April 28-29, 2018, lovers of jazz music genre, culture and fashion aficionados will gather at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria, Island, Lagos to delight in several thrilling performances by international, indigenous jazz artistes, and fashion models.
Aside celebrating jazz and haute couture, the two-day event hopes to further showcase the rich culture of Lagos State, while featuring master classes on music and business.
“The UNESCO International Jazz Day is about celebrating Jazz. It is about celebrating its root, future and impact. We want to raise awareness of the need for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding. It is also about reinforcing international cooperation and communication which are the core principles of UNESCO,” Afolabi Oke, founder, Runway Jazz and group leader, Sweet Sound Production, organisers of the show, said on the rationale for the celebration of jazz by UNESCO.
In this year’s edition, Oke is promising jazz with an African sound, as well as, new edgy fashion with African touch.
“For us, Runway Jazz is beyond a show. “It is an experience that defines the impact of music on everyday life. It allows us to express our culture in such a way that we encourage peace and unity, first among ourselves as a people and then between Nigeria and the rest of the world. It speaks to the minds of artistes to challenge and channel their creativity into a great cause,” Oke explained.
One of the highlights of the 2017 edition of the show was the partnership of Lagos State government in the show to commemorate the Lagos at 50 years celebration. This year, Runway Jazz is taking another turn, especially with the partnership Universal Music Group.
Speaking on the MoU singed recently between the organisers and Universal Music Group, Sipho Dlamini, managing director, Universal Music, South and Sub-Saharan African, said it is a huge honour working with Runway Jazz, adding that the group is excited to be given the opportunity to partner with such a prestigious jazz event.
“We believe this will be the flagship event in Africa. This year will be very different. It is a two-day event; day one will be for the master class — fashion master class and a music master class, which will be hosted by Universal Music Group. This year, we will be having jazz aficionado and Grammy award winner, Gerald Albright; Tiwa Salvage and Kayode Ajayi, both Berklee College of Music alumni taking sessions at the music master class,” he explained.
Dlamini also stated that Universal Music as the number one entertainment company in the world, is partnering the event on the principle of the various activities the group oversee and implement in the areas and places they operate not just as a leading record label but as the number one entertainment company in the world.
While Lagos State government has reinstated its commitment to the event this year, the organisers noted that Dolapo Osibajo, wife of the Vice President, will be gracing the event alongside her Step-Up Initiative that encourages and supports young people to use the Nigeria prints to make bags and shoes.
Aside Gerald Albright, the artistes line up include; Sweet Sound as the host band, Tiwa Savage and other R&B singers as alternative genre expose, Heavy wind, and Beyond Vocal, a South African powerful vocal quintet under the Universal Music discovery . As well, there will be stage dance performance by the Society for Performing Arts in Nigeria, SPAN and fashion runways by AvantGarde.
“In the fashion Masterclass, notable names like Oke Maduewesi, MD, Zaron Cosmetics; Opeyemi Oke, MD, Studio 54; and Ibidunni Ighodalo, MD, AvantGarde, will engage participants and it will be headed by Her Excellency, Dolapo Osinbajo. Also, in the musical Masterclass, Gerald Albright will lead, alongside Sipho Dlamini, Kayode Ajayi and Tiwa Savage”. Oke said.
He also noted that there are expectations that the next year’s edition will be held in Lagos with the Lagos State Governor’s support. According to him, the partnership is coming at the right time being that as a country, Nigeria is hoping to bid to host the global jazz festival by 2020.
However, the organisers expressed optimism that this year’s jazz festival, which will be dedicated to the memory of Hugh Ramapolo Masekela, an African pride, famous South African Jazz exponent, will be a worthwhile experience.
