“All are excellent artists, but given the anticipation, I think Sona Jobarteh and Bonga are the highlights,” stated Cláudia Mestre, communication assistant at Harmonia, the event organizer that annually places the archipelago on the map of international music.
The lineup features in the agenda of music enthusiasts and jazz and Creole rhythms fans who are accustomed to reserving their spot for open-air concerts, far from the (still) wintery weather of the Northern Hemisphere.
On the verge of turning 83 in September, Bonga – José Adelino Barceló de Carvalho – continues gracing the stages with rhythms and lyrics that both entertain and express popular aspirations.
“It’s never easy, given his age and the great name he is,” commented Cláudia Mestre on the task of including Bonga in the lineup, which she describes as “very rewarding: he is a mythical artist, who started singing early and needed to evoke Angola’s independence in his compositions.”
“This year, the KJF is part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of independence, so we connected Angola and Cape Verde,” which celebrate their independence on November 11 and July 5, respectively.
Sona Jobarteh is in an unusual position as a woman playing the “cora,” a 21-string harp from West Africa, traditionally reserved for men, the “griots,” musicians who inherit the role.
Besides “changing the rules,” Sona Jobarteh (performing on April 11) is also “an excellent singer,” highlighted in the KJF program synopsis.
Immediately on the opening night (April 10), there is a special attraction: the Kriol Kréyòl collective presents itself, following an artistic residency that brought together musicians from different backgrounds.
“It is a mixture of two Creole worlds, from the Caribbean and Cape Verde,” one “more Francophone” and the other “more Lusophone,” with “similar sounds despite cultural and historical differences,” described Marcos Costa, general director of Harmonia.
“It’s not the first time we’ve tried to make this rich cachupa,” he joked, alluding to the archipelago’s typical dish that is a fusion of ingredients, traditions, and flavors.
The program is completed by Cabo Cuba Jazz (April 10), Mário Lúcio, Mário Canonge, Sixun (April 11), Nancy Vieira, Michelle David and The True Tones, and Las Karambas (April 12).
“The KJF always brings artists from different continents and jazz mixed with Creole influences,” which, as Cláudia Mestre acknowledges, requires a challenging task of contacts and scheduling, “but Djô da Silva knows how to do it like no one else,” she mentioned regarding the KJF producer – it’s almost like a calling, “since Cesária’s time, he knows how to do it.”
The result will hit the stage in a few days, with an annual impact on the capital’s life, especially on hotel, dining, and related services.
This year’s lineup faced cuts due to the lack of support transfer from the Praia Municipality, an issue that is still pending, noted Marcos Costa – with the municipality also stating they are working on the matter.
Nonetheless, the project has well-defined aspirations, including internationalization, as already happened this year with an extension in Águeda.
The KJF is always preceded by the Atlantic Music Expo (AME), a gathering of professionals that includes performances by new stars, animating Praia from April 7 to 10.
