# Cape Town International Jazz Festival

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is an annual music festival held in Cape Town, South Africa. The first one was held in 2000 to 2005 and is recognized as the fourth largest jazz festival in the world and the largest jazz festival on the African continent. The festival was called the "Cape Town North Sea Jazz Festival" due to its association with the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands. In 2006, controversial businessman Iqbal Survé's Sekunjalo took control of espAfrika, the company that hosts the festival.

## History

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival started in 2000 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 by Rashid Lombard) and Mojo Concerts BV, the founders of the Dutch North Sea Jazz Festival. It was the first time that a jazz festival with four simultaneous legs took place in South Africa. The festival occurred ever year until 2005 as the North Sea Jazz Festival. Thereafter, from 2005 onwards, the festival was renamed to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival due to the partnership failing. 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. From its inception to 2003, the event was held at the Good Hope Centre but it outgrew the venue, so from 2004, the festival has since been hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

### Lawsuit

In 2000, the North Sea Jazz Festival came to Cape Town, South Africa for the first time. From 2000 to 2005, the festival was marketed as the North Sea Jazz Festival as part of a contract between espAfrika and Mojo Concerts. 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. They filed for espAfrika's liquidation to consolidate a €500,000 debt 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".

### Controversy

In 2019, the festival was sponsored by Iqbal Survé's cash-strapped Independent Media as well as the Survé-controlled AYO Technology Solutions, which is accused of unfairly benefiting from the Public Investment Corporation which manages the Government Employees Pension Fund, after a R4.3 billion investment that is under investigation.

### Previous festivals

The 2007 edition of the festival was endorsed by then Cape Town's Mayor Helen Zille. The 2010 edition of the festival contributed R 740 million to the Western Cape's GDP. For an extra R25.00 per show, music enthusiasts gain access to the Rosies Stage which features more relaxed, acoustic Jazz Music. Every year just before the main event, a free open-air concert with selected performers is held at the Greenmarket Square.
Cape Town International Jazz Festival by year :
| Year | Date | Venue | Performers |
| 2000 | 31 March and 1 April | Good Hope Centre | Herbie Hancock, Youssou N'Dour, Courtney Pine, Moses Taiwa Molelekwa, Hugh Masekela, Busi Mhlongo, Interzone |
| 2001 | 30 & 31 March | Good Hope Centre | Marcus Miller, Mal Waldron, Zuco 103, Sibongile Khumalo, Don Laka, Bill Bruford Earthworks |
| 2002 | 30 & 31 March | Good Hope Centre | Spyro Gyra, Ahmad Jamal, Toots Thielemans, Andy Narell, Tower of Power, Louis Mhlanga, Judith Sephuma, McCoy Mrubata |
| 2003 | 28 & 29 March | Good Hope Centre | Eumir Deodato, Isaac Hayes, Osibisa, Andreas Vollenweider, Jonas Gwangwa, India.Arie, Archie Shepp, Pieces of a Dream, Moses Khumalo, Floetry |
| 2004 | 10 & 11 April | Cape Town International Convention Centre | Stanley Clarke, Miriam Makeba, Cassandra Wilson, Abdullah Ibrahim |
| 2005 | 30 and 31 March | Cape Town International Convention Centre | 340ml, Cesária Évora, Bobo Stenson, Dhafer Youssef, Transglobal Underground, Dave Holland |
| 2006 | 31 March & 1 April | Cape Town International Convention Centre | Miriam Makeba, Chucho Valdés, Freddy Cole, Louie Vega, Sipho Mabuse, Paul Hanmer |
| 2007 | 30 & 31 March | Cape Town International Convention Centre | Average White Band, Gino Vannelli, Leela James, The Stoner, Saskia Laroo, Hip Hop Pantsula |
| 2008 | 28 & 29 March | Cape Town International Convention Centre | Ananda Project, Gerald Albright, Kenny Barron Trio, Oliver Mtukudzi, Najee, The Manhattans, Zola |
| 2009 | 3 & 4 April | Cape Town International Convention Centre | Mos Def, 340ml, Hugh Masekela, Freshlyground, Dianne Reeves, Maceo Parker, Peter White |
| 2010 | 3 & 4 April | Cape Town International Convention Centre | BLK JKS, Rick Braun, Vusi Mahlasela, TKZee, Richard Elliot, Rachelle Ferrell |
| 2011 | 25 & 26 March | Cape Town International Convention Centre | Al Di Meola, Angie Stone, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Herbie Hancock, Erykah Badu |
| 2012 | 30 & 31 March | Cape Town International Convention Centre | Lauryn Hill, Mike Stern, James Ingram, Zahara, Dave Koz, Jean Grae, GoodLuck, Lenny White, Donald Harrison, Ron Carter |
| 2013 | 5 & 6 April | Cape Town International Convention Centre | Ravi Coltrane, Steve Turre, Mafikizolo, Robert Glasper, Matt Garrison, Buena Vista Social Club |
| 2014 | 28 & 29 March | Cape Town International Convention Centre | Kirk Whalum, Erykah Badu, Lalah Hathaway, Mi Casa, Black Coffee, Snarky Puppy |
| 2015 | 27 & 28 March | Cape Town International Convention Centre | Basia, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Thundercat, Amel Larrieux, Ringo Madlingozi |
| 2016 | 1 & 2 April | Cape Town International Convention Centre | Angie Stone, Cassandra Wilson, BADBADNOTGOOD, SWV, Lizz Wright |
| 2017 | 31 March & 1 April | Cape Town International Convention Centre | En Vogue, Gretchen Parlato, Judith Sephuma, Soweto String Quartet, Digable Planets |
| 2018 | 23 –24 March | Cape Town International Convention Centre | Incognito, Simphiwe Dana, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Sibusiso Mashiloane, Manny Walters |
| 2019 | 29 – 30 March | Cape Town International Convention Centre | |
| 2020–2023 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Cape Town International Convention Centre |
| 2024 | 3 – 4 May | Cape Town International Convention Centre | |