The Casa Anfa stage hosted an evening dedicated to Afro-contemporary music on Sunday as part of the 19th edition of the Jazzablanca festival, headlined by performances from Nigerian artist Oxlade and French-Haitian singer Naïka, two rising figures on the international music scene.
The night opened with Oxlade, a rising figure in Afrobeats, who quickly built a warm atmosphere for a large crowd. Known for his distinctive falsetto and expressive delivery, the Lagos-born artist ran through several songs from his catalogue, including OFA, Piano, and Arabambi, reflecting the growing international reach of Afrobeats and its blend of contemporary sounds with African musical heritage.
Naïka followed on the Casa Anfa stage, bringing a musical identity shaped by her Caribbean, African, and European roots. She performed several of her best-known songs, including Bloom and For Gerard, offering an intimate style of songwriting set against contemporary rhythms and reinforcing a sound built on cultural blending.
Elsewhere at the festival, Scene 21 opened with Haitian saxophonist Jowee Omicil, whose set leaned into improvisation and stylistic variety, before Nigerian guitarist Keziah Jones took over with a higher-energy performance. A leading figure of the blufunk style, Jones combined funk, rock, and Yoruba influences in a set built around groove and spontaneous playing. At the Arab League Park stage, Moroccan rapper Tchubi performed as part of a program dedicated to urban music and Morocco’s emerging scene.
Now in its 19th year and running through July 11, Jazzablanca is offering an eclectic line-up open to current trends and Moroccan talent, with 40 concerts at Anfa Park and 10 free concerts at Arab League Park, the latter conceived as an extension of the festival into the heart of Casablanca and built around jazz, Gnaoua, soul, and contemporary music.