Accra to host third jazz and highlife festival

Established by the Alliance Française Accra, since its inception the Live in Accra festival has been one of the key events in Ghana that brings together jazz lovers and jazz masters. Each year the festival promotes jazz and live music in the nation’s capital.

Kicking off the year’s event is a pre-festival performance by Constant Boty on Wednesday 27 April. The acclaimed guitarist will entertain guests at what is billed as “one of the biggest outdoors concerts ever.” The Live in Accra 2016 festival proper begins a day later with a concert hosting three of the greatest highlife musicians: A.B. Crentsil, Ben Brako and Gyedu-Blay Ambolley.  

On Saturday 30 April, the famous +233 Jazz Bar and Grill hosts a concert in celebration of International Jazz Day. Guests will welcome Dutch jazz trumpeter Teus Nobel. The Victor Dey will also be performing. At the same spot on Monday 2 May, the film The Miles Davis Story will be screened, as will Miles Davis Live in Paris, another film covering the life and times of the famous American jazzman.

Thursday 5 May sees the same venue hold a concert by keyboardist Opoku Mensah, while a night of jazz funk with the Divas is scheduled for Friday 6 May at +233 Jazz Bar and Grill from 8pm. Performing are Ofie Kodjoe, Brenda Joyce, Faith Bekoe and Sandra Huson, backed by the Victor Dey Jazz Quartet.

Israeli multi-instrumentalist Tal Kravitz will close the festival on Saturday 7 May. He will be joined by flautist Dela Botri.

Ticket prices vary by event. For more information visit the Alliance Française Accra Facebook page.