Cape Town Jazz Festival unveils monthly forums to empower women in music and arts
Women from across the music, arts, and entertainment sectors gathered for the inaugural CTIJF Women’s Month discussion on creating sustainable change in the industry.
Image: Wendy Dondolo
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) has initiated a new monthly discussion series aimed at fostering gender equality and sustainability within the music and entertainment industry.
The inaugural session, held during Women’s Month, focused on “Future-Proofing the Industry for Women: Creating Sustainable Change.”
The discussion convened prominent women from various sectors of the arts, including musicians, cultural practitioners, and festival organizers.
The event was met with an “overwhelmingly positive response,” with participants praising the forum for providing a secure and open environment to share experiences and devise strategies for a more inclusive future.
Attendees described the session as “inspiring and long overdue,” with some noting that “having these conversations at the highest level of the industry is the first real step to change.”
Shaakirah Adams, Head of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, emphasized the long-term vision of the series.
“This conversation is about creating a legacy of empowerment,” she said.
“By providing a platform for women to engage directly on the challenges and opportunities in our sector, we are taking important steps toward designing an industry that is fairer and more inclusive from the ground up.”
The monthly dialogue series is part of a broader transformation for the CTIJF as it prepares for its 23rd edition, scheduled for March 27 and 28, 2026.
The festival promises a “reimagined experience” with new programming and expanded engagement opportunities.
Tickets for CTIJF 2026 are currently on sale via Ticketmaster and will remain at 2025 prices until November 25, 2025.
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