Zahara and Hugh Masekela had the crowd begging for more.
The highly anticipated biggest music night in Windhoek took place last weekend and boy oh boy was it spectacular. I do not think I had ever witnessed such a large crowd gathered together all for the love of Jazz. The show kicked off with Ama-khoe, Big Ben and Mahetage. Then the crowd got a taste of the young, all sharing the stage at the same time in the FuJazz All stars who indeed delivered more than they said they would. They performed a mixture of Afro jazz mixed with Rhythm n Blues (RnB) and performed songs from the likes of John Legend and Michael Jackson.
When Erna Chimu and Elemotho took to the stage, they had the audience on its feet. The genre of Jazz is most enjoyed but a mature audience but last weekend that notion was proved wrong when the Hage Geingob stadium was filled to capacity by music lovers of all ages from children right through to a much older generation. The crowd went wild as international artists Zahara and Hugh Masekela came on stage. This duo had the crowd begging and screaming for more. Zahara performed Loliwe, Xa bendigena mama, Incwad’encane, Ndiza from her debut album and also gave the crowd something new when she performed songs from her new album ‘Phendula’. The crowd was ecstatic when she performed the late Brenda Fassie’s ‘Vulindlela’. Hugh Masekela or ‘Bra Hugh’ as he is affectionately proved to everyone who had doubts that the old crooner still has the magic when he danced on stage. His performance was so electric it had fellow artists including Zahara joining the crowd in an impromptu dance. The festival proved that indeed that there is a hunger for entertainment in the capital with over 5000 tickets being sold. Show MC, Lulu said more tickets had to be printed to cater for more Jazz lovers. The Windhoek Jazz festival was indeed bigger, better and even more electrifying than last year’s. I think its safe to say that those that attended are looking forward to next year with anticipation and have already started preparing their dancing shoes, blankets and camp chairs for yet another unforgettable show.
