Jazz lovers in Kwatsaduza

Pat Dovola and Friends spent their Easter Monday at Ndaba Tree, KwaThema listening to the soothing sounds of jazz.
Dovola Mabena is the chairman of the Pat Dovola and Friends annual Jazz event, which marked its eighth year in January.
He said that the community still had a big number of Jazz music lovers, presenters, producers and performers.
“Today’s event is like an after party to our January party, hosted due to popular demand by jazz followers in the community,” explained Dovola.
The chairman revealed that they always host their events at the same venue as it carries meaning.
“This place is those who came before us met to discuss serious issues, it was used as a “community hall”, added Dovola.
The Easter Monday event came 10 days before the International Jazz Day 2014 celebrations kick of in Osaka Castle Park, Japan on April 30.
This year marks the third year that the International day is celebrated, after it was proclaimed during the 2011 General Conference, hosted by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Although the two events are not connected, their aims for hosting these events is similar.
While UNESCO described the International Jazz Day as “celebrating the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation.”
Buyi Manatha who attended Monday’s event said, “jazz is a stress reliever, and you become like family with other jazz lovers who attend sessions.”
Ali Jiyane another veteran jazz follower explained that as a young man, he was mentored by older colleagues who taught him the basic of jazz music.
“Jazz gives the message in instruments, and Swing, Blues and Deep jazz are all different types of the same genre,” added Ali.
He concluded by also adding his voice in saying jazz is still alive in the community.