Lesotho grooves to International Jazz Day beat

Lesotho is set to join global celebrations for International Jazz Day with a free event tomorrow hosted by the Mountain Kingdom Jazz Foundation (MKJF).

The MKJF will bring together jazz enthusiasts at Banesa Guest House, at Sehlabeng Sa Thuathe on the outskirts of Maseru.

According to MKJF President Mokoenya Chele, the event will run from 12:00pm and feature a live band, music selections from various local jazz clubs, and other arts activities.

Competitions with prizes, as well as food and beverages available for purchase, are also planned.

Chele highlighted the venue’s scenic location, noting its modern facilities and panoramic views of the Maloti Mountains.

“The modern sandstone buildings with all necessary and luxury amenities, are set in expansive lush gardens and manicured lawns, commanding a panoramic view of Machache, the first range of the Maloti Mountains to the east, sweeping down to the sprawling peri-urban villages of Ha Leqele, ‘Nelese, Matala, Masianokeng, Mazenod and even up to Makhoarane in the southeast of Maseru,” he said in a statement.

He also assured attendees that Banesa Guest House is equipped to handle any weather conditions.

MKJF comprises of 12 jazz clubs from Leribe, Berea, Maseru and Mohale’s Hoek, who have come together to promote the culture of jazz music in Lesotho. Under the MKJF umbrella, the clubs have celebrated International Jazz Day for the past three years.

Dee Mofokeng, chairperson of Merethetho Jazz Club, which is organising this year’s celebration, stated that careful planning and sponsorship have been secured.

“While Banesa Guest House offers enough shelter against rain and the cold weather, we urge all patrons to bring along warm clothes and a camp chair so they can enjoy all the comfort and entertainment until the end,“ Mofokeng said.

The event aims to celebrate jazz music, foster unity, and recruit new members for the MKJF, which comprises twelve jazz clubs from across Lesotho. Member clubs will each have a 30-minute music slot, interspersed with performances by a poet and a live band.

Prizes will be awarded to attendees for categories such as early arrival, best dressed, best music set, and best dancer.

International Jazz Day, officially recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and advocated by Herbie Hancock, is celebrated annually on April 30th to highlight the unifying power of jazz.

The day was first celebrated on 30^th April 2012 with two concerts, one in New Orleans and another at the UN headquarters in New York, USA. UNESCO collaborates with the Herbie Hancock Foundation to manage the annual event, which is held in different countries each year, as a symbol of the universality of jazz.

While the global host city for 2025 is Abu Dhabi, Lesotho is actively participating in the spirit of the day.