University of Fiji to Mark World Jazz Day with 24-Hour Radio Marathon

The University of Fiji is set to host a unique 24-hour radio marathon on Thursday, April 30, to commemorate World Jazz Day. This event will not only celebrate the vibrant genre of jazz but also underscore its profound role in fostering peace, intercultural dialogue, and cooperation. The marathon will feature five of Fiji's most celebrated contemporary music artists, including powerhouse vocalists Eni Kumar and Laisa Vulakoro, crooner Ken Janson, Sailasa Tora, and jazz guitar virtuoso Tom Mawi.

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Jazz music arose on the slave plantations, emerging from the musical traditions of enslaved Africans in the American South, fusing African rhythms, work songs, and spirituals with European harmonic structures.

These esteemed artists will share insights into their careers and the importance of jazz music during live discussions on the university's campus radio station, Vox Populi. This initiative aligns perfectly with UNESCO's designation of International Jazz Day in 2011, which recognizes jazz as a universal language that promotes mutual understanding, diversity, and freedom of expression. The University of Fiji, through this event, aims to amplify this message within the national context.

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Jazz is more than music, it is about protest in a way that kept the scrutiny of rebellion under cover, at the same time sending the stark message of painful experiences, but also hope and a renaissance.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem highlighted the historical roots of jazz, originating from the musical traditions of enslaved Africans in the American South. She emphasized that jazz emerged as a powerful form of survival and expression under oppression, evolving into blues and ragtime before coalescing in New Orleans. Professor Shameem views jazz as more than just music; it's a form of protest and a testament to resilience, carrying messages of painful experiences alongside hope and renaissance. By linking jazz's message to education, the University of Fiji encourages all educational institutions in the country to utilize jazz music as a vehicle for positive national change, a perspective that resonates deeply within Fiji's cultural landscape.

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The University felt that this link should encourage all educational institutions in Fiji to use jazz music as a vehicle for positive change in the national interest.