The unprecedented concert “JazzWomenAfrica” bringing together 7 jazz musicians from 5 African countries will be broadcast online on April 30. It will be followed by a conference on the theme “what place and what challenges for women in jazz in Africa?” bringing together 10 African experts and artists.
Jazz music is part of the history of struggles for freedom, democracy and civil rights, it has many virtues, as an educational tool and engine of empathy, dialogue and cooperation between peoples. This is why UNESCO designated April 30 as International Jazz Day in 2011.
In the context of highlighting the two aspects of Africa and gender, designated by UNESCO as global priorities, an artistic residency for African Jazz women was organized in Casablanca at Studio Hiba, in November 2021, in partnership with the Moroccan Office (BMDA) and the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), with a view to preparing the celebration of the JID 2022. For this event, special emphasis will be placed on the necessary action to be taken in the world of culture in favor of inclusiveness, in particular of African women artists, and the need for their development for the sustainable development of African territories and countries.
Produced by Anya for UNESCO, this initiative will be relayed by the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz in New York, including excerpts from the #JazzWomenAfrica concert during the All-Stars World Concert. The partner European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will broadcast the concert to its radio partners on a European and international scale.
7 women from 5 different countries met to discuss and create unique artistic compositions together. In order to highlight the work and the exceptional talent of these artists, a conference-debate around the practice of Jazz music and the situation of African women musicians will be held online on April 29, 2022 at 3 p.m. (GMT) and the concert #JazzWomanAfrica will be broadcast on April 30, 2022 at 7 p.m. (GMT) on social networks, and on the official website of the JID.