Taking Namibian jazz to America
Musicians from China, Germany, Mexico, Japan, Spain, Namibia and more, will take part in a Jazz Ensemble that will result in a glitzy final concert tomorrow night.
Singer and saxophonist Elemotho and Suzy Eises have kick-started 2018 with an amazing musical project in San Antonio, Texas.
A list of musicians from all over the world have been invited to take part in the 300-year celebration of San Antonio 's International Sister Jazz Ensemble exchange which is but one of 700 community events in this year's celebration.
Eises and Elemotho are the only Africans to perform at the festival.
Globetrotter songwriter Elemotho said the news excited him so much as having international gigs is always an honour for him.
“It is something out of this world. San Antonio is a renowned American jazz city plus getting to play with jazz musicians from all over globe in. Thanks to the City of San Antonio and City of Windhoek,” he said.
Eises said the opportunity to play and to be present at such an event is one-of-a-kind as not only do they get to showcase Namibian culture through music to the rest of the world, but they also get to uplift the music industry.
“Personally, it's great for me as musician as I am able to network and learn from other musicians and make connections internationally.
I am also able to share my knowledge and joy of African music that I play with the world and this is one of my main focuses - to share heartfelt music and to heal people's souls,” she said.
Elemotho said he looks ward to playing his songs Seshaba from his third album and Ke Nako, while Eises will blow her horn to her song titled Harambee on her debut album.
The artists agreed that more festivals need to be established where international collaborations are made and cultures are shared.
“The world is small and big at the same time.
These international platforms are not only necessary but are a way for us to finally use the digital age to cross geographic, racial, economic and cultural borders in our relations to each other as fellow earth inhibitors,” said Elemotho.
June Shimuoshili
A list of musicians from all over the world have been invited to take part in the 300-year celebration of San Antonio 's International Sister Jazz Ensemble exchange which is but one of 700 community events in this year's celebration.
Eises and Elemotho are the only Africans to perform at the festival.
Globetrotter songwriter Elemotho said the news excited him so much as having international gigs is always an honour for him.
“It is something out of this world. San Antonio is a renowned American jazz city plus getting to play with jazz musicians from all over globe in. Thanks to the City of San Antonio and City of Windhoek,” he said.
Eises said the opportunity to play and to be present at such an event is one-of-a-kind as not only do they get to showcase Namibian culture through music to the rest of the world, but they also get to uplift the music industry.
“Personally, it's great for me as musician as I am able to network and learn from other musicians and make connections internationally.
I am also able to share my knowledge and joy of African music that I play with the world and this is one of my main focuses - to share heartfelt music and to heal people's souls,” she said.
Elemotho said he looks ward to playing his songs Seshaba from his third album and Ke Nako, while Eises will blow her horn to her song titled Harambee on her debut album.
The artists agreed that more festivals need to be established where international collaborations are made and cultures are shared.
“The world is small and big at the same time.
These international platforms are not only necessary but are a way for us to finally use the digital age to cross geographic, racial, economic and cultural borders in our relations to each other as fellow earth inhibitors,” said Elemotho.
June Shimuoshili
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