Salif Keita for Stanbic Festival

Celebrated Malian Afro pop singer and writer, Salif Keita, will perform at this year’s Stanbic Ghana Jazz Festival on Thursday, February 28, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.

This year’s edition, themed: “Nostalgia”, will also feature UB40 and Top-flight Camerounian jazz bassist, Richard Bona, for the second time in two years. Bona and American saxophone player, Gerald Albright, were the top acts in 2017.

Expanding on the theme at the festival launch at Stanbic Heights in Accra, the Head of Marketing at Stanbic Bank, Mr Mawuko Afadzinu, said celebrating the past “gives us the impetus we need to face the future with renewed vigour”.

According to him, Ghanaian musicians to feature at the festival would be announced soon after all contracts had been signed. “We are all looking forward to a spectacular festival,” he added.

The Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank, Mr Alhassan Andani, also stated that the bank and its affiliates would continue to promote jazz and other strands of popular music on the continent.
He said it was important for all to look to the future with confidence and help make Ghana a great country.

Formed in England in 1978, UB40 has achieved massive success as a reggae and pop band. With multiple Grammy nominations to its credit, UB40’s popular tracks include Red Red Wine, Falling In Love With You, I Got You Babe, Please Don’t Make Me Cry, Here I Am, Kingston Town and Cherry O Baby.

The Stanbic Ghana Jazz Festival started in 2013 and has since featured the likes of Peter White, Earl Klugh, Bob James, Gerald Albright and Tom Braxton.

Ghanaian musicians such as Ebo Taylor, Steve Bedi, Knii Lante, Akablay, Kyekyeku, Adomaa, Ofie, Victor Dey and Bernard Ayisa have also played at the festival.