On November 2025, Nigerian music pioneer Keziah Jones, made his triumphant Riyadh debut last night, delivering a soulful and high-energy performance for a captivated audience at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art at Jax (SAMoCA). The concert was a featured event of SAFAR, a new outdoor music program designed to foster cross-cultural dialogue through a diverse lineup of international and regional artists.

Jones, celebrated for his unique ‘Blufunk’ sound, a fusion of blues, funk and Afrobeat showcased his exceptional guitar skills and magnetic stage presence. His set list seamlessly moved from driving funk grooves to intimate blues passages, drawing on his Yoruba heritage while incorporating soul, jazz and rock. The performance marked a significant cultural moment, introducing his genre-defying music to many attendees for the first time and embodying SAFAR’s mission of creative exchange.

The SAFAR concert series, a ticketed program running until December 2025 at SAMoCA’s outdoor arena in Diriyah, is part of the museum’s broader programming alongside BIENALSUR 2025. The series launched last month with a performance by the French electro-chill collective Bon Entendeur and aims to position Riyadh as a thriving hub for contemporary arts and music, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

The program continues with the multimedia duo Love and Revenge, who will return to Riyadh in December. They will present “Agmal Layali,” a bold, contemporary reimagining of the legendary Oum Kalthoum’s music, marking the 50th anniversary of her passing. The performance will blend her iconic vocals with electronic music and cinematic visuals. The duo will also hold a public workshop on December 7th before their concert on December 8th.

SAFAR is an initiative presented by the Saudi Museums Commission, one of 11 sector-specific bodies under the Ministry of Culture. The commission was established in 2020 to develop the Kingdom’s museums sector, create educational opportunities and build international cultural partnerships.