South Africa joined the rest of the world in declaring the NOVEL COVID 19 pandemic, a global tragedy which will have far reaching effects to every nation. In keeping with the countries and various cities around the world which began shutting down, restricting travel and limiting social interaction, SPIN Foundation joins in officially confirming the postponement of the IJD Cape Town 2020 celebrations.
In accord with our partners, The Host City Cape Town, The Department of Sports Arts and Culture, The Department of Tourism, Discovery LTD and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, we hereby announce that International Jazz Day 2020 Global Host Celebration in Cape Town and other cities across South Africa, including the All-Star Global Concert on 30 April, will not take place as scheduled. The health and safety of all participants, including artists, staff, partners and the general public, is our most pressing concern.
South Africa and its jazz community worked music practitioners spent hours preparing the required hosting procedures, fundraising efforts and pre-production work in readiness to host this prestigious event.
“We are all in unprecedented times at the moment and it is important that we all work together to combat the spread of Covid-19. I’m pleased that the International Jazz Day has followed in the steps of many events across the world, taking the responsible step of postponing to allow us to flatten the infection curve of this pandemic. We look forward to welcoming the International Jazz Day to our beautiful city in the near future,” said Cape Town Executive Mayor Dan Plato.
“Hosting the International Jazz Day 2020 is intended to showcase South Africa’s jazz history and unique heritage. During this trying time, we invite everyone nationally and globally to join us in being creative and still commit in displaying and celebrating our rich cultural diversity and jazz expression, while being vigilant, obeying all protocols and ensuring that we emerge from this calamity safe, healthy and stronger” added Chairperson of Spin Foundation, Motsumi Makhene
Herbie Hancock, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, said “These are unprecedented times for world citizens and we are most grateful for the support, understanding, and partnership of our Jazz Day community. Armed with optimism, patience and grace we’ll work through these challenges as families, communities, countries and as a stronger united world. Now more than ever before, let’s band together and spread the ethics of Jazz Day’s global movement around the planet and use this as a golden opportunity for humankind to reconnect especially in the midst of all this isolation and uncertainty.”
SPIN Foundation thank each artist and the technical teams for their commitment to this project and hope we to soon provide details on a rescheduled date for the Global Concert. For the month of April which is Jazz Appreciation month, our Jazzday activists and the community are encouraged to revisit the hosting theme Celebrating the Roots and Routes of African Jazz by highlighting the unique contributions made by South African and African artists to this art form.
We encourage jazz lovers to submit their smartphone videos, audio recordings and other virtual expressions of participation to show solidarity with everyone affected by this challenging situation.
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