FIRST GLOBAL JAZZWOMEN FESTIVAL
BOTSWANA 2022
“It was an amazing experience seeing and hearing compositions by women played and how the audience received it… Heartwarming!” - Sibongile Buda
The First Global JazzWomen Festival took place in Gaborone, Botswana over a weekend in August 2022. REVA’s Global JazzWomen Hang, the initiative that started a weekly zoom community hosting women jazz musicians from around the world, became the seed for the Festival. The presenation is a partnership between REVA, JCFI Mamelodi (South Africa), Botswana Society For Jazz Education (BOSJE), and Kingdom Arts Academy (Botswana).
-
Friday August 19th, co-coordinator of the festival Sibongile Buda and her JCFI Band from South Africa drove up to Gaborone to rehearse along with the Fleek Band from Kingdom Arts Academy in Botswana in a combined mass band. REVA’s own Jessica Jones, another festival co-coordinator, joined to facilitate the rehearsal and provide a couple of the arrangements. Then Saturday morning all the members of the combined bands gave inspiring workshops for 50 local young female instrumentalists in a program titled "Camp Her", organized by festival co-coordinator Akhutleleng Kekwaletswe, that ended with the girls all sitting in with the women for a crowded and spirited rendition of Miriam Makeba’s “The Click Song”. Sunday was festival day, and it was perfect weather to be playing outdoors at a rooftop restaurant in the business district of Gaborone. The show opened with local children performing traditional and popular music in a marimba ensemble, then featured each of the two bands and closed with the large combined band. All the featured performers and composers were women, which is, as Akhu pointed out, a first in Botswana!
The camaraderie was apparent, and spirits were high. The JCFI Band played a set that ranged from swinging blues to two ori, followed by the Fleek band’s saxophone-heavy big band arrangements and soulful voices. Improvisation was abounding, and even included a mock dance-off for solo space in the violin section. Vocalists brought warmth and energy to the combined band, especially in the encore performance of “The Click Song,” which got the audience singing and dancing along.
PARTICIPANTS & PERFORMERS:
Fleek Band
Akhutleleng Kekwaletswe, alto sax, Sebaga Rabantheng, alto sax, Andriana Kgosiemang, alto sax, Tshimologo Thutlwa, alto sax, ,Lee-Ann Dintwa, vocal, Tshegofatso Lekgatho, violin, Aubriet Musona, violin, Bontle Lenyaola, violin, Alessandra Sbrana, drums, BJ Bojosi Ntseane, guitar, Refilwe Mbangi, electric bass, Tshemologo Batshogile, vocal,
JCFI
Sibongile Buda, bass, Daisy Mangwato, guitar, Zinhle Makhanya, keyboard, Jaz Nthabiseng Mokoena, alto sax, ,Kgomotso Moepye, vocals, Lee Ann; plus: Alessandra Sbrana, drums and Jessica Jones, soprano sax
STAFF & VOLUNTEERS:
Ronald Chikwase (bass) eqpt and cartage, Michel Portuondo (guit) sound, Farai Phiri (dr) eqpt and cartage, Abednico Gagoitsewe (b,dr) eqpt and cartage, Kutlo Setsogo (tpt) eqpt and cartage, Botselo Tau (ten sax) eqpt and cartage, Leatile Tev Serojane (ten sax) sound, driving, Tony Seduke sound, Daneil Kekwaletswe driving, food, Lorraine Kekwaletswe tickets, Jesse Mogale (SA) - driving, Blessing Maphosa - sound, Nthabiseng Segoe (SA) - Camp Her, Novula Sibande (SA)
“The festival was such a huge milestone for me personally that I was able to pull together such a huge project within a very short period of time and yet it was so impactful. I had so much fun playing with all the ladies in a band and there was so much love for one another and so much grace.
As for my students, I will say it was such an experience for them to have teachers from other countries and learning with other girls they have never met before. The jazz community that follows the work we do as Kingdom Arts Academy and Botswana Society For Jazz Education was treated to a Sunday they will never forget. History was made in Botswana on that day. It has never happened to have an all female jazz big band on stage before. All in all, it was fun, fun, fun!”
CampHER workshop - day 1 of the GJWFestival
“It was thrilling to plan and carry out this festival with Akhu and Sibongile, whose welcoming spirit and positive attitude set the tone for this historic event. Musically, I loved meeting and sharing with all these women in the jazz pool, where there is room for so much variation in personal and cultural voices. Our goal of spotlighting and amplifying the existing musicians in Botswana and South Africa were fulfilled. I love to be an agent of REVA’s mission to partner with existing programs to help them collaborate and build community through arts. This linking is especially important with underrepresented communities, such as women in jazz. It was a distinct pleasure and I am looking forward to the next one!”
Sunday performance - grand finale of the GJWFest 2022