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Open call: Mzantsi Jazz Awards 2024 entries

5 mar 2024 - 12:08

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

Jazz musicians, recording companies, radio stations and clubs in South Africa are invited to submit entries for the eighth edition of the Mzantsi Jazz Awards (MJA) to be held at Soweto Theatre in Johannesburg on 31 August.

Siyanqoba Mthethwa won two trophies at the 2023 Mzantsi Jazz Awards. Photo: Facebook

The scheme recognises the best of local and international jazz and successful nominees will be announced via the media and the awards’ official website on 28 June.

The awards will consider works produced between 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

“While jazz is at the centre of our struggle for freedom from apartheid led by stalwarts like the late Jonas Gwangwa, Bheki Mseleku and Hugh Masekela, it remains a marginalised art form in South Africa, with challenges like lack of venues to perform and the marginal focus on it in mainstream media,” Mzantsi Jazz Awards founder Mongezi Makhalima said.

“While the purpose of the event was to announce the opening of Season 8 of the MJA, it was also used to reveal a new campaign to be launched around the city called Making Jazz Sexy Again. This is in preparation for the 31 of August 2024 when the eighth Mzantsi Jazz Awards will be staged. The aim is to revive the interest in jazz not just as a musical form but as a cultural norm as it was when people used to go out dressed up for a night of jazz in the city.”

Below are the categories: