| Cape Town International Jazz Festival | |
|---|---|
 The free concert atGreenmarket Square is an annual event that starts the festival. | |
| Genre | Jazz,funk,afropop,fusion,soul,R&B |
| Dates | March |
| Locations | Cape Town, South Africa |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Founders | Rashid Lombard Billy Domingo |
| Website | capetownjazzfest |
TheCape Town International Jazz Festival is an annualmusic festival held inCape Town,South Africa. The first one was held in 2000[1] to 2005[2] and is recognized as the fourth largest jazz festival in the world[3] and the largest jazz festival on theAfrican continent.[4] The festival was called the "Cape Town North Sea Jazz Festival" due to its association with theNorth Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands.[5][6] In 2006, businessmanIqbal Survé'sSekunjalo Investments took control of espAfrika, the company that hosts the festival.[7]
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival started in 2000[1][8] as part of the North Sea Jazz Festival. This was part of an arrangement that came about as a result of the partnership between espAfrika (a South African events management company founded byRashid Lombard) and Mojo Concerts BV, the founders of the Dutch North Sea Jazz Festival.[2] It was the first time that a jazz festival with four simultaneous legs took place in South Africa.[8] The festival occurred ever year until 2005 as the North Sea Jazz Festival.[2] Thereafter, from 2005 onwards, the festival was renamed to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival due to the partnership failing.[2][9] The festival has grown since it first started in 2000, and as a result, attendance has also grown from 14,000 concert goers in 2000 to 34,000 concert goers in 2013.[10] From its inception to 2003, the event was held at theGood Hope Centre but it outgrew the venue, so from 2004, the festival has since been hosted at theCTICC.[11]
In 2000, the North Sea Jazz Festival came to Cape Town, South Africa for the first time.[1] From 2000 to 2005, the festival was marketed as theNorth Sea Jazz Festival as part of a contract between espAfrika and Mojo Concerts.[9][12] The plan was for Mojo Concerts to provide the necessary infrastructure for a world class African Jazz Festival, so as soon as that happened, Mojo Concerts took espAfrika to court.[9] They filed for espAfrika's liquidation to consolidate a€500,000 debt[9] that had been incurred over the 5-year contract. On 26 April 2005, a settlement was reached outside of court in which the debt was consolidated and espAfrika was able to continue with the festival, now under the name of the "Cape Town International Jazz Festival".[9][13]
In 2019, the festival was sponsored by Iqbal Survé's cash-strappedIndependent Media as well as the Survé-controlledAYO Technology Solutions, which is accused of unfairly benefiting from thePublic Investment Corporation which manages the Government Employees Pension Fund, after a R4.3 billion investment that is under investigation.[14][15][16]
The 2007 edition of the festival was endorsed by then Cape Town's MayorHelen Zille.[17] The 2010 edition of the festival contributedR 740 million to theWestern Cape'sGDP.[2] For an extra R25.00 per show, music enthusiasts gain access to theRosies Stage[6] which features more relaxed, acousticJazz Music.[18] Every year just before the main event, a free open-air concert with selected performers is held at theGreenmarket Square.[6][10][18][19]
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