Gaborone International Jazz Fest this weekend

On the 4th of April, Serokolwane Farm, just on the outskirts of Gaborone, will host the first instalment of what will become an annual event, the Gaborone International Jazz Festival (GIJF). The festival will feature creme de la creme of the music industry. Revelers will get to relax on four hectare of lawn and take in the peaceful and comfortable atmosphere. They are allowed to bring picnic blankets and camp chairs as they enjoy good company, music and food.
“Serokolwane farm is a hidden gem that is a stone throw away from the city. We are expecting revelers from as far as Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Namibia and other countries and this goes to show that we are in the right path of making Gaborone a destination of choice. We have leant that the Cape Town Jazz Festival rakes in approximately R820 million and we would like to see the same with the GIJF,” said the organizer, Lesedi Rakhudu.
Rakhudu added that preparations for the event are going snuggly as they have managed to secure accommodation and transport. “We have our operating permits, have secured accommodation and transport to ferry people from Airport Junction Mall to the venue for those who don’t prefer driving themselves there. We have also outsourced other services such as security guards, the Police, artifacts and food stalls.”
As a build up to the festival, Rakhudu says they will host a pre-party and through the Training and Development Program, they will host a masters class that will focus on various aspect of the music industry. “Through this initiative, GIJF seeks to make social investment a more strategic activity that will link together business strategy, industry sector, core competencies and stakeholder dialogue. This will essentially provide a vehicle for the youth to acquire a holistic sense and appreciation of the business environment within the entertainment tourism sphere,” she added.
The festival is headlined by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Atjazz, HHP, Mpho Sebina, Shanti Lo, Nnunu Ramogotsi, Jimmy Dludlu, Punah Gabasiane and Louis Mhlanga. Tickets will be sold through Computickets at P400 for day passes whilst P1500 will afford one a hospitality package.