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Zakifo Music Festival
Zakifo Music Festival
The fifth annual Zakifo Music Festival lands on Durban's shores over two consecutive weekends from 24 May until 1 June with a series of intimate pop-up bespoke concerts in venues in and around Durban.
This year Zakifo hosts 25 or more acts over the course of two weekends, from 10 countries in a myriad genres and styles who will participate in a series of concerts, workshops, industry talks and artists collaborations.
Zakifo offers a wide-ranging line-up of cutting-edge musicians from across the African continent and beyond. To keep Zakifo fresh, contemporary and relevant, the festival format is refreshed every year in response to the evolving audience and concert trends and to introduce new and unusual venues to Durban music lovers. This year the festival will occupy some of the city's most interesting and happening venues: Durban Botanic Gardens; The Werehouse; the historic Winston Hotel and adjoining Origin Nightclub and The Rainbow Restaurant. There will be workshops and industry events taking place during the week at Curiocity Hotel in the CBD.
Zakifo aspires to strengthen ties between the cultural communities of the Indian Ocean through its sister festival, Sakifo, held each year in RÈunion. Zakifo, founded by Jerome Galabert, Sipho Sithole and Andy Davis, is a member of the Igoda music festival circuit, which includes Sakifo Festival in RÈunion, Azgo Festival in Mozambique, Bassline Africa Day concert in Johannesburg, and Bushfire Festival in Swaziland. These festivals happen over a period of three weeks in May and June and have created an artist and festivalgoer touring circuit in the Southern African region.
"Sakifo means 'what is needed' in Creole," says Galabert. "With Zakifo Durban our intention is the same. Through our world-class line-up we strive to inspire and create lasting opportunities for collaboration; cross-cultural exchanges; economic opportunities and skills development."