Namib Desert jazz festival set to debut March 2025
Anticipation is building for the first-ever Namib Desert International Jazz Festival (NDIJF), set to take place in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund on 18 and 19 March 2025.
This event, long in the making, was first conceptualised in 2016 when organisers of the annual Jazz Cruise from Cape Town to Walvis Bay connected with Desmond Frankfort in Walvis Bay to explore the idea.
The vision, however, faced setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but was revived in 2022 and has now culminated in a planned festival that promises to blend music with the breathtaking backdrop of the Namib Desert.
The jazz festival is inspired by the success of the Jazz Cruise, which has been sailing out of Cape Town since 2012. Festival director Clarence Ford said one of the most frustrating aspects of the cruise was the limited time spent in the Namib Desert, leaving little opportunity for musicians to perform amid the stunning dunes.
Extended stay
Starting in 2025, the MSC Cruises will extend the Jazz Cruise's stay in Walvis Bay to two nights, allowing for the festival to take place in a natural amphitheatre at the foot of Dune 7, one of the tallest dunes in the world.
"The Namib is the oldest desert in the world and Dune 7 is its tallest dune," said Ford. "With jazz being a UNESCO-endorsed genre and the Namib a UNESCO World Heritage site, this festival links iconic natural wonders from Table Mountain to the Namib Desert in a tribute to time, nature and our shared humanity. It's an experience no jazz lover or musician will want to miss."
Unique festival
The festival, supported by Frankfort Investments as the Namibian partner, is expected to significantly contribute to the local economy by enhancing youth skills development, boosting the cultural industry and supporting tourism in Namibia. “It’s a no-brainer,” said the CEO of NDIJF, highlighting the festival’s potential to become a key cultural and economic event in the region.
The NDIJF will be launched internationally on Monday, 23 September, featuring a diverse line-up with artists from Brazil, Mozambique, the USA, South Africa, Namibia, Germany and other countries. The confirmed artists so far include Peter White, Elan Trotman, Marion Meadows and Jim Porto. The festival’s reach will be amplified through the artists' social media networks, putting the Namib Desert on the global jazz map. With over 2 000 attendees already confirmed on the cruise, the NDIJF will position Namibia as a must-visit destination for international jazz enthusiasts seeking unique natural encounters.
Strategic partner MSC Cruises, with a presence in 104 countries, will promote the Namib location of this new international jazz festival, further enhancing Namibia’s profile.
This event, long in the making, was first conceptualised in 2016 when organisers of the annual Jazz Cruise from Cape Town to Walvis Bay connected with Desmond Frankfort in Walvis Bay to explore the idea.
The vision, however, faced setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but was revived in 2022 and has now culminated in a planned festival that promises to blend music with the breathtaking backdrop of the Namib Desert.
The jazz festival is inspired by the success of the Jazz Cruise, which has been sailing out of Cape Town since 2012. Festival director Clarence Ford said one of the most frustrating aspects of the cruise was the limited time spent in the Namib Desert, leaving little opportunity for musicians to perform amid the stunning dunes.
Extended stay
Starting in 2025, the MSC Cruises will extend the Jazz Cruise's stay in Walvis Bay to two nights, allowing for the festival to take place in a natural amphitheatre at the foot of Dune 7, one of the tallest dunes in the world.
"The Namib is the oldest desert in the world and Dune 7 is its tallest dune," said Ford. "With jazz being a UNESCO-endorsed genre and the Namib a UNESCO World Heritage site, this festival links iconic natural wonders from Table Mountain to the Namib Desert in a tribute to time, nature and our shared humanity. It's an experience no jazz lover or musician will want to miss."
Unique festival
The festival, supported by Frankfort Investments as the Namibian partner, is expected to significantly contribute to the local economy by enhancing youth skills development, boosting the cultural industry and supporting tourism in Namibia. “It’s a no-brainer,” said the CEO of NDIJF, highlighting the festival’s potential to become a key cultural and economic event in the region.
The NDIJF will be launched internationally on Monday, 23 September, featuring a diverse line-up with artists from Brazil, Mozambique, the USA, South Africa, Namibia, Germany and other countries. The confirmed artists so far include Peter White, Elan Trotman, Marion Meadows and Jim Porto. The festival’s reach will be amplified through the artists' social media networks, putting the Namib Desert on the global jazz map. With over 2 000 attendees already confirmed on the cruise, the NDIJF will position Namibia as a must-visit destination for international jazz enthusiasts seeking unique natural encounters.
Strategic partner MSC Cruises, with a presence in 104 countries, will promote the Namib location of this new international jazz festival, further enhancing Namibia’s profile.
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