Nazizi Hirji is returning to the stage, carrying both the weight of loss and the power of resilience.
After nearly a year of mourning her son, Jazeel Adam, who tragically passed away on Christmas Day 2023 while the family was vacationing in Tanzania, the Necessary Noize star is ready to perform again. Her much-anticipated comeback will take place at the Blankets and Wine Festival this December.
For months, the loss of her three-year-old son left Nazizi unable to even listen to music, let alone perform. “Nine months without music since my Jiji left. I couldn’t even listen to music, let alone be on stage.
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“I never thought I would perform again. I was in the darkest place,” she shared. But in August, she made her first steps back, performing in Uganda.
“The warmth of audiences in Kampala and Jinja helped rekindle her passion. “Thank you, Uganda, for making my heart beat again,” she reflected.
The upcoming festival, scheduled for December 22, holds deep significance. Not only will she reunite with Wyre The Love Child, her longtime collaborator and fellow half of the legendary Necessary Noize, but the performance will take place just days before the first anniversary of her son’s passing. It’s a testament to her strength and the healing she’s found through music.
The Blankets and Wine Festival promises a rich celebration of Kenyan artistry. Alongside Necessary Noize, the lineup boasts a vibrant mix of talent, including rapper and singer Nyashinski, hip-hop trailblazers Wakadinali, Coastal Afro-house maestro Idd Aziz, and soulful newcomer Njerae.
Adding to the energy, Watendawili’s fusion of Afrobeat and hip-hop and Coaster Ojwang’s blend of traditional East African rhythms with contemporary Afro-pop will offer audiences a diverse musical experience.
US-based Xenia Manasseh, celebrated for her sultry mix of R&B, soul, and Afro-infused sounds, will also take the stage.
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The festival, in the words of its curator, Muthoni Ndonga, is “a tribute to the vibrant spirit of the Kenyan summer. It’s a celebration of our artists, our culture, and our community.”
A second stage will feature performances by DJ KJ Karuga, known for his vibrant sets, DJ IV with her genre-bending transitions, and folk singer Akoth Jumadi, whose heartfelt melodies have won her a loyal following.
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