FOREST JAM 2014-2018

FOREST JAM SESSIONS 2014 - 2018

The idea of Forest Jam was born out of an Afro-Swiss gathering in the mountains of central Switzerland and co-founded by Robert Trunz, Fabio Meier, Matthias Abächerli, Glauco Cataldo, and Lesiba Frank Magongwa. Its mission was to unite experienced and emerging musicians from different generations, backgrounds, and cultures to collaborate in local teams across Southern Africa. Forest Jam offered young artists — both local and international — an opportunity to experience art and music through direct collaboration and mentorship. The initiative followed a holistic approach that encouraged creative exchange, collective music-making, and the breaking down of cultural and age-related barriers. Each project emphasised cultural interaction as much as musical learning, making Forest Jam a rare and meaningful experience for young artists. Participants gained firsthand knowledge of regional traditions through classes led by master musicians, or by joining collaborative tours that blended traditional and contemporary sounds. Forest Jam operated with support from national and international cultural organisations while maintaining its base in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.