LISWATI ON STANDARD JOY OF JAZZ LINE-UP!

MBABANE - The sweet jazzy voice of songbird Zoe The Seed will engulf the Standard Joy of Jazz amphitheatre!

Eswatini-born jazz music vocalist Zoe ‘The Seed’ Masuku has been added to this year’s Standard Joy of Jazz which is set for September 27 to September 29 at Sandton Convention Centre, in South Africa.
This was revealed yesterday on South African media and social media platforms through posters which revealed artists who will be performing at the renowned jazz festival.

Alongside

She was revealed alongside internationally renowned jazz music artists including Sankofa, Ayanda Sikade Dalisu Ndlazi, Sakhile Simane and Nduduzo Makhathini and United States of America-born bassist Salim Washington, who will be coming with his band.
Masuku confirmed her performance at the jazz festival with this publication, stating that she was ecstatic to be part of the show.

“I am excited and feel challenged to deliver my best as I will be performing with Washington’s American band,” said Masuku.
Masuku said she got the gig by being part of the Sankofa band, which she has been part of for three years now.

Together

The Sankofa Band is a jazz band from Durban, South Africa which was brought together and draws inspiration from the Sankofa bird, a Ghanaian symbol of the return of diasporic Africans to the motherland.
Masuku said she hopes her performance at this reputable jazz festival changes her music career.

“My aim is to please and create a strong brand for ‘Zoe The See’ during my performance.
“Also, I aspire to learn more about jazz music during the entire festival,” she said.

Into Music Society Co-Founder Nelisa Lawton said Masuku was an obvious choice to be slotted on the Standard Joy of Jazz line-up.
Lawton was the first person to host the Eswatini songbird and she last performed in the country about two weeks ago at the Jazz Gallery at the Eswatini Theatre Club in Mbabane.

“Masuku gave a breathtaking performance while here, hence I am not entirely surprised that she will be performing among great names. She deserves it,” said Lawton.

She also said she could not wait for Masuku’s album to be dropped later this year.
Swaziland Arts and Music Association (SWAMA) President Melusi ‘Zox’ Dlamini said it was not shocking that Eswatini talent was attracting international stages.

Talent

“EmaSwati have raw talent and they deserve the international platforms that are availed to them,” said Dlamini.
Zoe The Seed follows in the footsteps of Sands, who performed at the 2017 Durban July Festival.

Speaking on behalf of the country’s jazz fraternity, Indibano Jazz Club Founder Mbusi Motsa said this was the inevitable at some point, as the genre was increasingly being embraced by many in the country.

“Many emaSwati artists are realising the importance of performing with a live band, creating the aura of jazz.
“In doing so, we are exposing ourselves to international stages. Masuku is the first of many artists to grace such respected festivals,” said Motsa.

The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz is held in Johannesburg each year, and it showcases 35 performances on four stages in three days.
It is an initiative that seeks to contribute to social cohesion, economic growth and cultural tourism.

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