Senegalese author-composer Baba Maal has been appointed sponsor of the 2009 festival, Dakar Jazz Festival’s Communication Officer, Fadel Lô, said.

“The 2009 Dakar Jazz Festival will be marked by the effective involvement of the event’s sponsor, namely the artist Baba Maal, who will perform live,” said the organizers, who see through this participation of the “King of Yella” a “major innovation”.

Through this event, the Dakar Jazz Festival’s Director, Michael Soumah, also radio presenter at the state-owned Senegalese Radio Television (RTS), said he wants to make the Senegalese capital, “a hub of jazz.”

”The demand does exist and we just need a good dose of determination and commitment to meet it,” he said, expressing willingness to work towards the establishment of “a fruitful cultural bridge between Africa, which is both the cradle of mankind and birthplace of jazz, and other parts of the world where the music is played.

“This is one way of updating again the right way up, the theory of the famous triangular trade,” Mr. Soumah said.

To mark this event, the public can enjoy artists such as Senegalese Shoula, a Senegalese living in Switzerland, De Diouf, Frenchman David Dey, a duet with Lanciné Kouyate, and the Canada-based local group Lyadia Ethinc Band.

Baaba Maal will also take part in the event.

The Dakar Jazz Festival was founded in 2007 at the Léopold Sédar Senghor Institute (former French Cultural Centre in Dakar), which will again host the 3rd edition, after the 2007 and 2008 ones.

The latest edition had been relocated to the Daniel Sorano National Theatre in the Senegalese capital.

-APA