Preparations for the first ever annual Calabar Jazz Festival billed to hold from March 29 through 31 have begun in earnest.

The festival is being organised by Destination Cross River, Nigeria’s strongest tourist brand, and already well known for world famous Calabar Festival, the biggest event of its kind in Africa.

Speaking at a press parley during the week, Special Adviser, Governor’s Office, Mr. Nzan Ogbe said the decision to make the Calabar Jazz Festival a stand-alone event is a direct result of the success of the jazz concerts held during the annual Calabar Christmas Carnival.

The event, which is scheduled for the the Easter holidays, is a three-day activity, expected to feature foreign and local artistes, including: D’Angelo, Eric Benet, Asa, Darey Art Alade, Bez, Jonathan Butler and Burna Boy.

The state is partnering popular music channel, MTV base and Mo Abudu’s Ebony Studio to stage the show which they say will showcase Cababar’s tourism potential to the world.

“Visitors to Calabar also get to have an experience that will literally take their breath away. The ancient city of Calabar with its undiluting landscape, historically significant as the first capital city of Nigeria, is the cleanest, greenest, safest capital in Nigeria,” Ogbe said.

In addition to the concerts, Ogbe added that there will be fun day-time activities and tours for all the family, fabulous VIP after-parties, and opportunity to sample some of the local delicacies which have led to Calabar being acclaimed the best kitchen in the country.

The concerts, he said, will rotate between two venues: The Cultural Center, featuring D’ Angelo, Asa, Darey and Bez on March 29 and Eric Benet, Jonathan Butler and Burna Boy on March 30, and the Millenium Park, featuring Darey, Bez and Burna Boy on March 31.