Entertainment
Lagos Honours Cape Town Festival Founder Rashid Lombard*
The Lagos International Jazz Festival (LIJF) will this weekend host a powerful tribute in honour of late South African cultural icon, Rashid Lombard, whose legacy shaped African jazz and global cultural activism.
The Tribute Showcase Jam Session, presented by Inspiro Productions, will hold on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at LIVE Lounge, 15 Idejo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, beginning at 5:00 PM. The event is free to the public.
Honouring a Giant of African Jazz
Rashid Lombard, a revered photojournalist, anti-apartheid activist, and founder of the renowned Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF), passed away on June 4, 2025, at the age of 74. Widely known as a chronicler of South Africa’s struggle and a champion of the arts, Lombard’s influence transcended borders.
His most enduring contribution remains the CTIJF, established in 2000 as a partnership with the Netherlands’ North Sea Jazz Festival. The event has grown into Africa’s largest jazz festival, drawing over 40,000 international visitors annually, and creating a vital platform for African and global jazz talents.
Global Tributes
Following his death, tributes have poured in from global leaders, musicians, and cultural institutions.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described Lombard as:
“A cultural icon who not only documented our history of struggle but made history in his own right. His fearless documentation of apartheid’s cruelty and his creation of Africa’s biggest jazz festival placed South Africa on the global cultural map.”
Lagos Pays Homage
In Lagos, the jazz community—led by Ayoola Sadare, CEO of Inspiro Productions and convener of the Lagos International Jazz Festival—joins the international outpouring of love and remembrance.
“For African jazz, and for me personally, Rashid Lombard was more than a pioneer — he was my mentor, my friend, my father figure,” said Sadare. “He gave so much of himself to nurture others. His vision lit the path for my journey in cultural production. I owe this to him.”
Sadare, who first met Lombard in 2005 through journalist Nseobong Okon-Ekong, credits the late icon’s mentorship as the spark behind LIJF. “He taught me that you’re never too old to dream again. His impact on my life and work is immeasurable.”
A Night of Jazz, Joy, and Legacy
Sunday’s concert promises a dynamic evening of live music, featuring some of Nigeria’s finest jazz and soul performers, including Bright Gain, Victor Ademofe, Gloria Ibru, Wale Adeyemi, Herbert Kunle Ajayi (HKA), Agba Joshu, Jesse Bangz, Samuel Ayunke, Zosu, Mikifa, A Stringz, and more.
“This is not just a concert — it’s a cultural statement,” said Sadare. “Rashid’s light continues to shine through every note, every rhythm, and every young artist he inspired.”
Pan-African Solidarity in Song
Lombard believed deeply in jazz as a unifying force for Africa. The Lagos tribute reflects this spirit, bridging two cities — Lagos and Cape Town — in a shared celebration of creativity, resilience, and African excellence.
“Admission is free. The memories are priceless,” reads the official LIJF invitation. “Join us as we celebrate the life, music, and legacy of a true son of Africa — Rashid Lombard — forever in our hearts.”
As the festive season gathers momentum, celebrated Nollywood actor Yomi Fash-Lanso is preparing to serve lovers of good music, nostalgia and culture a memorable evening with the third edition of FAAJI-LAWA with Yomi Fash-Lanso, billed for December 23 in Ikeja, Lagos.
The forthcoming edition, tagged FAAJI-LAWA XTRA, promises a refreshing blend of vintage Nigerian music, cultural expression and festive entertainment. The event will hold at Sinatra Place, Ladipo Oluwole Street, Ikeja, with an added touch of glamour under the theme, African Attires Affairs.
Conceived by Fash-Lanso, FAAJI-LAWA has gradually carved out a distinctive space for itself by celebrating the timeless sounds of legendary Nigerian musicians, particularly those whose music shaped the social and cultural experiences of southwestern Nigeria.
Beyond its entertainment appeal, the initiative seeks to reconnect audiences with the melodies, rhythms and lyrical richness of an era when music was not merely a source of pleasure but also a vehicle for storytelling, cultural preservation and shared memories.
For the actor, the forthcoming edition represents an opportunity to take the experience a notch higher, bringing together music enthusiasts, culture lovers and fun seekers for an evening of nostalgia and conviviality.
“I believe that the music of yesteryears offers more value and noteworthy lessons than what is obtainable today. Many of these songs are filled with tunes and melodies that bring back enjoyable moments and create wonderful, loving environments through their lyrics,” Fash-Lanso explained.
The concept is deliberately inclusive, cutting across generations and welcoming both the young and the old. While older guests can relive cherished memories through familiar classics, younger audiences will have the opportunity to discover the music that defined an earlier generation.
The event is also expected to appeal to Nigerians in the diaspora returning home for the holidays, offering them an opportunity to reconnect with familiar sounds, cultural traditions and the social atmosphere of home.
With the African Attires Affairs theme, guests can also expect fashion and cultural identity to feature prominently in the evening’s experience, adding colour and character to the celebration.
As the third edition, FAAJI-LAWA XTRA is designed to build on the promise of its predecessors while offering a more glamorous and expansive experience.
For Fash-Lanso, the ambition goes beyond staging another entertainment event. It is about preserving a musical heritage, rekindling fond memories and creating a meeting point where generations can connect through the enduring power of music.
With December 23 drawing closer, FAAJI-LAWA XTRA is positioning itself as one of the festive season’s distinctive gatherings for lovers of old-school Nigerian music, fashion and cultural celebration.
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