The Jazz à Ouaga festival is set to return after a pause in 2024, with the 33rd edition scheduled to take place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from November 27 to 29, 2026. The festival's theme this year is "Jazz and African Roots," aiming to reaffirm Africa's position as the birthplace and future of jazz. The event is organized by the Jazz à Ouaga association, which seeks to promote and develop jazz culture in Burkina Faso and internationally.
The festival's program features a mix of national and international artists, including Mamar Kassey from Niger, Vieux Farka Touré from Mali, and several Burkinabé artists such as Sissao, ATT, and Audrey Korsaga. Mamar Kassey's music combines traditional rhythms from Niger with contemporary sounds, while Vieux Farka Touré blends blues, rock, and traditional Sahélien rhythms. The lineup showcases the diversity of jazz and its evolution, influenced by African traditions.
According to Lombar Barry, the festival's artistic programmer, the lineup reflects the region's significant role in global cultural dialogue, aligning with the values of sovereignty, solidarity, and cultural promotion championed by the Alliance des États du Sahel (AES). The festival aims to celebrate jazz and its African roots, promote cultural exchange, and contribute to the development of Burkinabé culture.
In addition to the performances, the festival will feature a public conference on the theme "Jazz and African Roots: How to Valorize Our Local Musical Heritage?" The conference will address challenges related to preserving and promoting African musical heritage, including digitization, transmission to younger generations, and professionalization of cultural actors.
The festival's organizers aim to establish a link between reflection and artistic proposals, highlighting the example of Mamar Kassey, which combines traditional and modern elements. The event also includes initiatives to promote local talent, such as the Jazz Performance competition, and to decentralize music, making it more accessible to a wider audience.
The festival will take place on the esplanade of the Baguette du Faso in Ouaga 2000, Ouagadougou, and is under the patronage of the Minister of Communication, Pingwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo. The Jazz à Ouaga association, which has been renewed and reformed, aims to promote jazz culture, organize the annual festival, and contribute to the development of Burkinabé culture and international relations.
The association's objectives include promoting jazz as a symbol of peace and dialogue between cultures, detecting new talents, and fostering exchanges between Burkinabé and international artists. With this year's edition, the festival aims to leave a lasting impact and reconnect with its audience through the sounds of jazz and its African roots.
Key points
- The festival's theme is "Jazz and African Roots," highlighting Africa's role in the evolution of jazz.
- The lineup features a mix of national and international artists, showcasing the diversity of jazz and its African influences.
- The festival includes a public conference on valorizing local musical heritage and initiatives to promote local talent and decentralize music.
