High security and jazz fusion for Africa's top festival

Hundreds of police mingled Tuesday with jazz aficionados basking in performances by top names including US fusion bassist Marcus Miller as Africa's top jazz festival pumped up the volume in Senegal. Miller was just one of a slew of top musicians headlining the 25th Saint Louis Jazz Festival, Africa's biggest. But there was no missing the large security presence in Senegal's northern coastal city, owing to fears of potential attacks by jihadists. New Yorker Miller, 57, who has collaborated with the likes of trumpeter Miles Davis and pianist Herbie Hancock, pulled out of last year's event which authorities briefly called off citing security concerns before performing an abrupt about-turn. Hundreds of police were keeping a close eye on proceedings as fans converged on Monday night's official opening ceremony. The event has been a major draw both for proponents and fans of the genre since its 1994 debut, creating a veritable melting pot from around the continent and beyond to jive on downtown Faidherbe Square. "Hundreds of uniformed and plain clothes police" have been deployed, Saint Louis police commissioner Becaye Diarran told AFP. "We have put in place a detail to secure hotel receptions," added Diarra with the festival a key tourism event for the city. Amongthose appearing at the opening ceremony were a Senegalese army ensemble and the Kumareh Band, an orchestra supporting Jaliba Kuyateh, Gambia's 'King of Kora' showcasing the West African 21-stringed instrument with harp-like timbre. The festival is "a window on culture," Alpha Omar Sow, a teacher attending the opening ceremony, told AFP. Miller was due to strut his stuff Tuesday evening as the event, running to May 1, began to climb towards grooving altitude. Also set to appear Tuesday was Congolese singer-songwriter Lokua Kanza. Thursday will see Nina Simone's daughter Lisa Simone take the stage while other invitees include organist-guitarist and contemporary bluesman Lucky Peterson. Homegrown musicians include singer-guitarist Baaba Maal and Burkina Faso-born Cheikh Lo, whose debut album no less a figure than Senegalese star Youssou N'Dour offered to produce. Senegal has generally been spared the jihadist violence which has hit other states in the region including Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. But several suspected jihadists have been detained in Senegal in recent months. Organisers say the festival is a "reference point in the international musical agenda" and it ranks as the largest gathering of its kind in Africa attracting a wealth of top names. Those helping to build the Saint Louis legend since its inception include Gilberto Gil, Randy Weston, Hancock, Elvin Jones, Peterson and Manu Dibango. Organisers say the festival is not just about allowing fans to feast on a cornucopia of sound but facilitating multi-cultural exchanges and giving a sonic shot in the arm to regional tourism, while also showcasing emerging talents.