TShaka Mayanja
The answer to this question is quite similar to the answers around the world where Jazz Festivals take place.
Next door, in Nairobi, Kenya, the demise of The Safaricom International Jazz Festival was a big blow. Whilst this festival was much bigger (Kenya has a larger critical mass for Jazz), our very own Jazz Safari Festivals preceded it. In fact, we had three Jazz Safaris (with Sierra Premium) in Nairobi before the Safaricom festivals.
The financial challenges facing Jazz Festivals in the cradle of Jazz, America, where it was birthed, have forced the festivals to evolve into multi-genre festivals in order to survive (mainly combining Jazz, Soul, and R&B, genres that come from the same root, The Blues).
Here in Uganda, where Jazz was and is still nascent, it was an uphill battle that we fought for over a decade. Jazz here did not grow out of a vacuum, nor was it by accident; it was very hard, back-breaking work.
Sponsorship for this helped a lot in propelling the genre. Having platforms available for Musicians to showcase their talents helped, encouraging more and more Musicians to learn instruments, learn Jazz Music, and to record and later perform their songs on these platforms.
The last such festival took place here six years ago, the Covid-19 lockdown notwithstanding. However, the most important ingredient, which is consistent Jazz meets and activations, last took place nearly ten years ago. These are very important in keeping the fire burning, so to speak, and also for “recruiting” more Musicians and fans to the genre.
This year, DFCU Bank has started a Jazz festival, the DFCU Jazz In The Pearl Festival. I’ve heard from reliable sources that it’s a three-year plan. This is very good news. Like I’ve stated above, without sponsorship, even in countries where they have the critical mass, it’s impossible to have these festivals.
The reality is, “it takes two to tango”. For this to make any sense to the sponsors, Jazz fans MUST support these festivals as much as possible, to make it worthwhile for even more sponsors to get interested.
The lack of a genre like Jazz that has some sophistication to it has led to the current dire state of Music in this country at the moment.
Respect is due, to those Musicians who even without tangible support, have continued to persevere with the genre in Uganda, through staging concerts, releasing singles, EPs, albums; Michael Kitanda, Happy Kyazze, Joseph Sax Ug, Jonathan Kyobe, Kampala Jazz Orchestra, O.V. Gilberto, Kajura Caesar Jonathan and a couple of younger ones I might have not listed (please add them in the comments section).
In a meeting we had eighteen years ago with Elijah Kitaka, on a Saturday at Nomo Gallery, the dream and the mission were to re-establish the playing of instruments in this country, with Jazz Music as the tip of the spear. The fact that there’s a band in almost every corner of this country, literally, is satisfying to see.
Wednesday, 30th April was International Jazz Day. Jazz Music lovers met up at Guvnor Uganda for the first time since the last activation we had there many years ago.
On Saturday, 10th May 2025, at Kampala Serena Hotel, Isaiah Katumwa, a product of that revolution started by Radio One FM 90 Jazz Evenings, was on stage with the great Kirk Whalum, another proponent in this revolution through the Jazz Safari ten years ago.
Jazz, welcome back
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