Kenya's Christine Kamau to jazz it up in Lagos

The upcoming 11th edition of the festival is part of the official Lagos tourism, arts and culture calendar and coincides with International Jazz Day on 30 April.

Kamau, who will perform on 29 April, told Music In Africa that said she was delighted to return to Nigeria for a second time after playing Capital Jazz Festival in 2016.

“I have been to Nigeria before, but to the capital city Abuja, which I found to be very organised and clean,” she said. “I've heard a lot about Lagos and I am looking forward to experiencing it. I will be performing with a band of Nigerian musicians, some of whom I have interacted with before.”

Kamau says her style of playing has progressed since her first performance in the West African country. “A lot has changed. My musical direction is more Africa-influenced. I am experimenting more with new sounds too, and now I also play synth keys on stage in addition to my horn."

Apart from hosting an international line-up, which the organisers have not confirmed yet, the annual Lagos International Jazz Festival also strives to highlight the role jazz plays in uniting people from different circumstances.

Kamau herself says that music, and jazz in particular, can make people appreciate each other to "overcome the divisions of race, ethnicity, social class, age, gender and religion."

“Jazz musicians are in some way ambassadors, and with their ability to jam and make music with musicians from any background, they defy societal differences and encourage a spirit of unity in the larger society,” she said.

Kamau recently performed with German experimental band Slatec in Nairobi, Kenya. “I had watched them perform in Germany before and admired how each band member deeply connected with the music on stage and how they used sound effects in their performance,” she said about what had drawn her to work with the group. 

For updates about the line-up, visit the Lagos International Jazz Festival official website.