30 April International Jazz Day and the South African Revolution
International Jazz Day is an International Day, which is celebrated annually on April 30, was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2011. The declaration was “to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe”. The idea came from jazz pianist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, who currently chairs the Jazz Day together with the UNESCO Director-General. The celebration is recognised on the calendars of both UNESCO and the United Nations.
Currently, the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, which was formerly known as the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, chaired by Hancock, is the lead organisational partner for Jazz Day. The Institute coordinates activities in the UNESCO member states as well as the Global Host Celebration. Events in the Host City culminate in an All-Star Global Concert, which involves numerous jazz musicians from around the world performing in or around an historical landmark.
Nearly 200 countries participate in International Jazz Day every year. In addition to concerts and jam sessions, events include workshops, conferences, and community outreach. The official registry of worldwide events is hosted on jazzday.com where they are displayed and indexed alphabetically by country.
International Jazz Day is officially described by UNESCO as an annual celebration in the context of th
