International Jazz Day being observed today

KATHMANDU: International Jazz Day is being observed in various countries around the world today.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared April 30 of each year as International Jazz Day in November 2011.

The day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts worldwide, offering a platform to share knowledge about jazz music—its origins, evolution, and global influence.

According to UNESCO, jazz is recognized as an important international art form that promotes peace, intercultural dialogue, respect for diversity, and the protection of human rights and dignity. It is also seen as a medium that helps combat discrimination, encourage freedom of expression, support gender equality, and strengthen the role of youth in social transformation.

The 10th anniversary of International Jazz Day was celebrated in 2021 with a series of global events, making it one of the world’s largest annual jazz celebrations.

The occasion featured programs held in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Paris (UNESCO Headquarters), Cape Town, Moscow, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro, culminating in a grand “All-Star Global Concert.”