GIMC unveils star-studded 2025 Jazz festival lineup
GIMC unveils star-studded 2025 Jazz festival lineup
GIMC unveils star-studded 2025 Jazz festival lineup
The Gaborone International Music and Culture Week (GIMC), a beacon of elegance and entertainment, is once again raising the bar. Known for its meticulously curated week-long extravaganza that includes champagne picnics, choir performances, comedy, and a grand music festival, GIMC has consistently reshaped Botswana’s dynamic music and culture industries.
As 2025 reaches its halfway mark, organizers are thrilled to announce what promises to be a spectacular 11th edition, running from Saturday, September 6th, to Saturday, September 13th, 2025, across various iconic Gaborone venues.
One of the first confirmed events, and a highlight for music aficionados, is the GIMC Jazz Festival. This year, the festival will unfold at the breathtaking Bojanala Water Front, a serene oasis on the outskirts of Gaborone. With its stunning landscape and lush green surroundings, it provides the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable musical experience.
The GIMC Jazz Festival 2025 boasts an impressive roster of talent, blending local legends with celebrated African stars. Women of Jazz: Botswana’s own vocal powerhouses Puna Gabasiane, Nnunu Ramogotsi, and Kearoma Rantao are set to mesmerize the audience with their agile, athletic voices.
Known for their mind-boggling vocal gymnastics and their incredible renditions of hits by artists like Judith Sephuma and Yvonne Chaka Chaka, this ensemble is thrilled to be part of the festival.
Sereetsi & The Natives, multi-award-winning and fearlessly inventive, contemporary folk act brings a unique blend of jazz and pop. Their debut album, Four String Confessions (2015), captivated audiences with its strong songwriting and a distinct sound that fuses traditional rhythms with Western influences, all built around the signature Tswana four-string folk guitar.
Encore, the smooth Tswana balladeers from South Africa, are also confirmed. This talented trio, led by lead singer Kabelo Thamane, made a triumphant return to the music scene in 2023 after a brief hiatus. Their debut album features the hit “Ke Fela Pelo,” showcasing their deeply rooted storytelling through music.
Adding to the vibrant atmosphere, DJ Lefatshe and WDP will also be part of the stellar lineup, ensuring a diverse and engaging musical journey. The GIMC Jazz Festival is proud to announce two iconic headliners who promise to electrify the stage.
South Africa’s multi-platinum selling and 11-time South African Music Award (SAMA) winning Afro-soul vocalist, Lerato Molapo, known simply as Lira, will grace the festival. She describes her music as “a fusion of soul, funk, elements of jazz and African,” and her extensive catalog of hits includes “Something Inside So Strong,” “Feel Good,” “Hamba,” “Believer,” “Soul in Mind,” “Ngiyazifela,” “Phakade,” “Ixesha,” and “Rise Again.”
The enduring South African Afro-pop music group, Mafikizolo, formed in 1996, continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Comprising composer Theo Kgosinkwe and lead singer Nhlanhla Mafu (with Tebogo Madingoane, tragically lost in 2004), the group shot to fame with hits like “Ndihamba Nawe Kuphela,” “Kwela Kwela,” “Sibongile,” and “Udakwa Njalo.”
Their self-titled 1997 album and the 1999 Music Revolution paved the way for their best-selling third album, Gate Crashers. With 14 South African Music Awards and 2 MTV Africa Music Awards to their name, including Best Duo or Group of the Year, Mafikizolo’s legendary status is undeniable. The GIMC Jazz Festival 2025 is shaping up to be an unmissable event, promising a week of unparalleled music, culture, and entertainment in Gaborone.
