30 April, 2024, US Residence, Vailima
Cabinet Ministers,
Members of Parliament,
Excellency Ambassador Udall
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Talofa and Good evening,
It is a pleasure to attend the reception this evening to celebrate International Jazz Day. According to UNESCO; the purpose of the International Jazz Day is “… to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe.” I believe it is a marvelous opportunity for everyone to learn about Jazz and its roots, raise awareness of its extraordinary heritage and the messages it delivers for all of us.
Today, I take this opportunity to speak on this day, 30th April 2024, International Jazz Day as the Patron of the Samoana Jazz and Arts Festival of Samoa.
I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the collaboration and great support of the US Embassy in this years’ International Jazz Day celebrations leading up to and culminating in your hosting tonight’s Reception themed – The Journey of Jazz. We know that Jazz is one of the most influential genre in music history with its remarkable evolution over the years from spiritual to blues, intertwining with all genre of music from different communities to create the numerous styles we know today. In short jazz brings together different sounds, rhythm and beats and unites ethnic diversity. Let us celebrate the unity, diversity, peace and the freedom of expression that is acknowledged by and through jazz. Every year on April 30 this international art form is celebrated widely.
And as the world knows, JAZZ as a musical artform was a gift that originated from the United States and we all now benefit from the Gift of JAZZ.
Samoa has its own unique Jazz story which started with WW1 in the 1930s gaining momentum during World War II. American Samoa was the US military base for thousands of soldiers stationed in the Pacific, its port the naval and marine base for seafaring vessels and neighbouring Samoa, the airbase for military aircrafts.
One of Samoa’s first Jazz Bands, The Moody Rivers from Lotopa, moved to American Samoa to become the main entertainment for the US Military stationed there.
Throughout the years the idea was to create a cultural and creative platform through Jazz that attracts the global Samoan diaspora and one that united the 2 Samoas hence the birth of SAMOANA. In 2014 – The Samoana Jazz & Arts Festival was officially inaugurated in both Samoa. We are also now acknowledged as the Pacific’s birth-place of JAZZ.
We welcome this ingenuity initiative bringing together different cultures and building partnership through learning and appreciation of jazz as reflected in that between the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet Band and Samoana Jazz and Arts Festival. I understand the Navy Pacific Fleet Band has had a series of jazz performances in collaboration with our local artists in the past week and we thank you for sharing your music and talents with us. It is my hope that we maintain and strengthen this partnership for our future generations to learn and be creative in their appreciation of jazz.
I hope you will enjoy and revel in the entertainment tonight as we join the celebration of this important event and day.
Happy International Jazz Day celebrations.
Soifua.
