Lagos will come alive this Sunday as Runway Jazz 2025 brings together global jazz legend Wynton Marsalis, Nigerian Afrobeat star Made Kuti, and top fashion creatives. The fusion event, themed “Timeless Return,” celebrates the blend of world-class jazz, African rhythm, and runway fashion. Organisers say Runway Jazz 2025 aims to position Lagos as a global hub for jazz and fashion excellence.
Runway Jazz 2025: A Global Stage in Lagos
The annual Runway Jazz 2025 promises a unique cultural experience that merges live jazz with the glamour of fashion. This year’s edition will take place in Lagos, welcoming both international and local stars. The highlight will be performances by Wynton Marsalis and Made Kuti, who will share the stage for the first time.
“I have always wanted to be here,” Marsalis told journalists on Saturday, expressing excitement about performing in Nigeria. He described his arrival as a long-awaited homecoming, noting that African culture has always influenced his music.
Wynton Marsalis: A Living Legend in Jazz
Born in New Orleans in 1961, Wynton Marsalis is one of the world’s most celebrated jazz musicians. The Managing and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) began playing the trumpet at age six and went on to study classical trumpet at The Juilliard School in New York.
His career took off when he joined the legendary Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers. Since then, Marsalis has performed over 5,000 concerts in 66 countries and released more than 110 albums. He has won nine GRAMMY Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Music—the first ever awarded to a jazz composition.
Marsalis’ Lasting Legacy
Marsalis’s impact extends beyond performance. As a composer, bandleader, and educator, he has written over 600 original songs, multiple symphonies, and jazz suites. Some of his most notable works include The Democracy! Suite, The Ever Fonky Lowdown, and Swing Symphony.
He also founded the Jazz Studies program at Juilliard and serves as President of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation. His work has inspired countless young musicians through programs like Jazz for Young People and the Essentially Ellington competition, which marks its 30th anniversary this year.
Global Recognition and Humanitarian Impact
In addition to his music career, Marsalis has received 44 honorary doctorates from top universities including Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. He was appointed UN Messenger of Peace by Kofi Annan and has earned major honors such as the National Medal of Arts, National Medal of Humanities, and Japan’s Praemium Imperiale for Music.
His philosophy, rooted in the principles of jazz, promotes creativity, cooperation, gratitude, and optimism. Marsalis often says jazz teaches “how to face adversity with grace and groove.”
Lagos as a Global Hub for Jazz and Fashion
Event organisers say Runway Jazz 2025 reflects the spirit of Lagos — dynamic, creative, and cosmopolitan. With its “Timeless Return” theme, the event highlights how music and fashion can unite cultures and generations.
By hosting icons like Wynton Marsalis and Made Kuti, Runway Jazz 2025 positions Lagos not just as Africa’s entertainment capital but as a rising global hub for jazz and fashion innovation.
As Lagos hosts Runway Jazz 2025, the city celebrates a “Timeless Return” of sound and style. With Wynton Marsalis’s legendary artistry and Made Kuti’s Afrobeat energy, the fusion promises a night where jazz, fashion, and culture harmonize on one grand stage.
