The Cape Town International Jazz Festival started in 2000 as part of the North Sea Jazz Festival. This was part of an arrangement that came about as a result of the partnership between (a South African events management company founded by
Rashid Lombard) and Mojo Concerts BV, the founders of the Dutch North Sea Jazz Festival. The festival has grown since it first started in 2000, and as a result, attendance has also grown from 14,000 concert goers in 2000 to 34,000 concert goers in 2013. From its inception to 2003, the event was held at the
Good Hope Centre but it outgrew the venue, so from 2004, the festival has since been hosted at the
CTICC.
Lawsuit In 2000, the North Sea Jazz Festival came to Cape Town, South Africa for the first time. The plan was for Mojo Concerts to provide the necessary infrastructure for a world class African Jazz Festival, so as soon as that happened, Mojo Concerts took to court.
Controversy In 2019, the festival was sponsored by Iqbal Survé's cash-strapped
Independent Media as well as the Survé-controlled
AYO Technology Solutions, which is accused of unfairly benefiting from the
Public Investment Corporation which manages the Government Employees Pension Fund, after a R4.3 billion investment that is under investigation.
Previous festivals The 2007 edition of the festival was endorsed by then Cape Town's Mayor
Helen Zille. The 2010 edition of the festival contributed
R 740 million to the
Western Cape's
GDP. For an extra R25.00 per show, music enthusiasts gain access to the
Rosies Stage which features more relaxed, acoustic
Jazz Music. Every year just before the main event, a free open-air concert with selected performers is held at the
Greenmarket Square. ==References==