Keeping Jazz Alive: Bob Collymore's legacy lives on with International Jazz Festival

Safaricom Youth Orchestra perform at the BC International Jazz Festival for Celebration of Music and Art at the Carnivore Grounds, Nairobi in 2023. This year's edition of the Bob Collymore International Jazz Festival (BCIJF) will be held on February 15 (Photo: David Gichuru/Standard, Bob Collymore/X) This year, the Bob Collymore International Jazz Festival (BCIJF) will come alive at the Carnivore grounds, Nairobi, on February 15, 2025. For Wambui Collymore, his widow and the festival Director, each edition is a step closer to fulfilling her late husband's dream of creating a sustainable platform for African jazz artists to shine. "Bob's vision was to give talented musicians a stage to share their art and to use music as a way to connect communities and support young people," she shares. Since its inception, the festival has drawn legendary performers such as Hugh Masekela, Salif Keita, and the late Manu Dibango. Yet its roots remain firmly planted in Kenyan soil, cultivating a thriving jazz ecosystem. The festival, born from the passion of the late Bob Collymore, a brainchild of the Art of Music Foundation has blossomed into one of East Africa's most celebrated musical events, blending local, regional, and international talent in a melting pot of soulful melodies. The late Bob Collymore, former Safaricom CEO, was not just a corporate leader but also an ardent jazz enthusiast and accomplished saxophonist. Known for his smooth saxophone renditions of classics like Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World, Bob made it his mission to bring jazz into the Kenyan mainstream. Three years down the line, the BCIJF has carried forward this mission, using proceeds to fund music education for Kenyan youth through Ghetto Classics, proving Bob's belief in the transformative power of music. "We're not just creating a festival; we're building a future where every child has a chance to discover their potential through music," says Wambui. Since 2014 the program has so far received an estimated Sh60 million from ticket sales, proceeds that have benefited over 1,200 children teaching music in Korogocho from Nairobi and Mombasa through the Ghetto Classics music programme. This year's festival promises an exciting lineup, featuring local talents like the Kaima Mwiti Quintet and Judah and the Tribe. The Kenyan acts will be joined by performers from Germany, Mozambique, and Barbados, bringing a global flair to the festival. All the artists will share the stage with Ghetto Classics, a youth orchestra supported by proceeds from the festival, and DJ D-lite, who will add an electrifying touch to the day. Mwiti, a pianist whose quintet performed at the festival's inaugural edition said the festival isn't just for jazz aficionados-it's a family-friendly event with something for everyone. "Jazz invites you on a journey. It's not just music; it's an experience that connects us to our roots while pushing us to explore new horizons," he stated. Judah and the Tribe, a dynamic Afro-jazz band ensemble led by trumpeter Judah Onesimus, bring their distinctive sound-a fusion of Kenyan rhythms and contemporary jazz represent the next generation of Kenyan music. Founded in 2021 by students from Kenyatta University, the band combines youthful music composers and arrangers inspired by Kenya's diverse rhythms. "Our mission is to create authentic musical experiences that resonate with our audience and celebrate our Kenyan identity," says Judah. Wambui said her late husband believed in the power of music to transcend barriers, to connect people across generations and cultures. "He always said music was one of the most transformative forces in the world," said Wambui. Proceeds from the event go directly to initiatives like Ghetto Classics, a program that provides music education to underprivileged youth. "This is about more than jazz. It's about giving young people a platform to discover their talents and tell their stories through music,"says Wambui. Bob Collymore served as Safaricom CEO from 2010 until his passing in 2019. The Bob Collymore Foundation, which organizes the festival, is committed to carrying forward Bob's dream of making music accessible to all. "Bob wanted this festival to be a space where anyone-no matter their background-could come and feel the joy of music," Wambui says. Wambui sees the festival as a bridge between Kenya's vibrant artistic heritage and the global jazz community. "Jazz was Bob's passion, and he wanted everyone to experience it. Our ambition is to honour Bob's wish to build a platform for revolutionary African artists to showcase their talent," she says. "He believed Kenya had a rich cultural tapestry that could shine on the global stage, and he wanted to give artists a platform to do just that." Kenya's relationship with jazz stretches back to the 1960s, but it was Bob's vision that catapulted the genre into a national phenomenon in the 2010s. From picnic vibes to vibrant performances by the Ghetto Classics youth orchestra, the day promises a celebration of life, music, and togetherness.

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