Every year April 30 is celebrated as International Jazz Day. This day is observed to raise awareness of the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for empathy, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people.
Various countries and communities around the world each year come together to celebrate jazz and the role it plays in fostering dialogue, fighting discrimination and promoting human dignity.
In the UNESCO General Conference November 2011, April 30 was proclaimed as “International Jazz Day,” as UNESCO believes in power of Jazz.
Jazz began in the early 20th Century, primarily with the African-American community.
“This tenth International Jazz Day is an opportunity to celebrate once again this rich musical tradition. Jazz is a multiple reality, forged through encounters between cultures, instruments, and people. For decades, jazz has been vibrating with everything that musicians have put into it while continuing to invite us to new horizons at the turn of each chord. ” — Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay’s message on International Jazz Day.
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