History
One of the Trust’s main activities is to hold an annual international music and dance festival in Kenya, to raise money for Kijani’s projects. The idea started in 2004, when CARMEN CAME TO KENYA. Brought by the Garden Opera Company from London. Now in its fifth year the festival has brought many famous international artists to Kenya and produced an eclectic fusion of music and dance with Kenyan artists.
The Kijani Kenya Music Festival is the only musical and cultural event of its kind in Kenya. The Festival has grown in popularity and become a calendar event at the beginning of the year in late February and early March.
Prior to all these events there is a dress rehearsal which is attended by children from homes that Kijani supports and Primary and Secondary schools. Many of the International Artists are asked to take master classes and musical education workshops for Kenyans.
Carmen Comes to Kenya performed by The Garden Opera Company was the first performance and was held in March 2004. There were 5 performances each held against a beautiful backdrop of stunning places in Kenya namely, Hells Gate National Park in Naivasha, Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki and Fort Jesus in Mombasa.
The other performances, held that year, were Chamber Music and Classical Flamenco Concerts at Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki and Sopa Lodge, in Naivasha.
The areas, where the concerts are held, receive 50% of the ticket revenue, from the concerts, in order to support local HIV AIDS and environmental conservation projects . The remaining 50% goes to other national projects
The second Festival, held in 2005, included The Garden Opera from London, Japan’s renowned pianist, Noriko Ogawa, and from India, Gaurav Mazumdar and his group. The world famous gospel singers, lead by Ken Burton, The London Adventist Chorale made their first visit to Kenya.
The venues, for these events, were the Yacht Club and Hells Gate National Park in Naivasha, Mount Kenya Safari Club, in Nanyuki and in Nairobi, The Village Market. Other venues included All Saints Cathedral and the Carnivore, a well known entertainment complex and restaurant, which is popular with International tourists for the game meat they serve. In Mombasa, the famous 15th century heritage site of Fort Jesus was one of the spectacular locations.
In 2006, a variety of artists brought their special talents to the Festival. The performers were The London Adventist Chorale, The Garden Opera Company, which performed Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Elena Riu a Venezualan pianist, Conjunto Sabroso Salsa Band and The Lucia Alvarez Flamenco Group from Spain.
The venues were just as varied, which added to the diversity of the Festival. The venues included The Yatch Club in Naivasha, a stadium in Nanyuki, Ol Pejeta Game Reserve in Laikipia, Lions High School in Kisumu and Fort Jesus, in Mombasa.
In Nairobi the venues were The Carnivore Restaurant, the Pentecostal Church and the famous Nairobi Arboretum.
By the time the Festival was held in 2007 it had gained in popularity and was a “must attend” event. This Festival had a flavour for all age groups, and divided in two parts. The first part was performed on the usual dates in February - March and a second half, in early August.
The performers, for the first part of the Festival, were The Cape Town Opera from South Africa, who were visiting Kenya for the first time. They performed Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess to audiences of over 1,600.
Other performances were, Jazz in the Park, which featured the best Kenyan Jazz artists. The Guildhall Strings from London, who performed Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Nairobi Chamber Choir and the London Adventist Chorale.
To celebrate the AMREF 50th Birthday, the London Adventist Chorale were joined by 900 singers from various church and children’s choirs plus Kabarak University, who are all part of Ken Burton’s workshop group, which has grown since its inception in 2004.
The venues were the Hells Gate National Park in Naivasha and Fort Jesus in Mombasa.
In Nairobi, the venues were the Pentecostal Church, Bomas of Kenya and the famous Nairobi Arboretum which was celebrating its Centennial.
In August, Mara Galleazzi brought members of the Royal Ballet, (with kind permission of Monica Mason, Director), and friends, who performed a Ballet Spectacular at Bomas of Kenya, in Nairobi and at Fort Jesus in Mombasa.
The dancers, included Principal Ballerina Mara Galaezzi, Vito Mazzeo and Laura McCulloch from The Royal Ballet. They were joined by Alexander Zaitsev and Katja Wunsche from the Stuttgart Ballet.
Safaricom of Kenya was the Main Sponsor.
