AWARDS
Afrikahn and Greg Bridges handing out BAJABA Lifetime Achievement awards at Ian Dogole's "The Last Trane to Africa" concert on 9/23/2023 at The Oaktown Jazz Workshops.
Photo by David De Hart
Each year, we choose a selection of major contributors to African-American music culture to receive the JaZzLine INSTITUTE award. Recipients are drawn from artists, producers, promoters, and anyone who has played an important role in the development and evolution of the culture and the music in its myriad forms.
See the list of JaZzLine INSTITUTE award recipients below.
The Awards
BAJABA MAISHA YA KAZI BORA © AWARD
BAJABA is an acronym for “Bay Area Jazz and Blues Artist.” “Maisha Ya Kazi Bora” is Swahili, which means “good work for life,” or the equivalent of “lifetime achievement.”
BAJABA VIJANA SIMBA SHUJAA AWARD
[Young Lion/Lioness] SHUJAA is Swahili for [Courage, Confidence, Bravery and Heroism]
BAJABA SIMBA SHUJAA AWARD [Lion/Lioness]
BAJABA GRIOT AWARD
[Story Teller/Historian … Pronounced Gree-O]
A GRIOT is a West African Historian, responsible for maintaining an oral record of tribal history in the form of music, poetry, and storytelling!
BAJABA MLINZI WA LANGO AWARD
Swahili for “GateKeeperWatchman/Woman”
BAJABA SILVERBACK AWARD
This award speaks to the resolve of one of the most powerful animals walking on this planet. Dominant, with a high desire to interact, and high levels of sympathy, affection, and gentleness. Intelligent, decisive, and protective, loves to explore, creative, impulsive, and active.
BAJABA SANKOFA AWARD
Sankofa is a Ghanaian word that translates and implores to reach back into ancient history for tradition as an important symbol in the African-American and African Diaspora context to represent the need to reflect on the past to build a successful future while living in the moment.
BAJABA ANCESTORS AWARD
This award celebrates those who left their FootPrints, their Giant Steps, their IMPACT and their LEGACY as evidence and encourages us all to be the best we can be.
BAJABA SHOWCASE LEGEND AWARD
Faye Carol and Ed Kelly
Both received their award at the African American Cultural Center in 2003.
Afrikahn Jahmal Dayvs is the founder of JaZzLine INSTITUTE and the BAJABA AWARDS, and creator of JaZzLine TV and Radio Programs, and the Executive Producer of the BAJABA Showcase Series.
BAJABA Award Recipients
BAJABA MAISHA YA KAZI BORA AWARD
1. Carol Ann Cooper “Franklin Square Mall” 2004
2 . John Rogers “KCSM” 2005
3. Frank Jackson “Jazz @ Pearls” 2005
4. Haybert King Houston “Anna’s Jazz Island” 2005
5. Merl Saunders “Great American Music Hall” 2006
6. Donald “Duck” Bailey “Jazz @ Pearls” 2007
7. Eddie Duran “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2010
8. Khalil Shaheed “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2010
9. Dr. Lonnie Smith “Dinklespiel Auditorium, Stanford University” 2010
10. Dawan Muhammad “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2010
11. Calvin Keys “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2010
12. Eddie Gale “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2012
13. E.W. Wainwright “57th Street Gallery” 2013
14. James H. Leary “57th Street Gallery” 2013
15. John Francis Turk “Geoffrey’s Inner Circle” 2014
16. Achyutan “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2014
17. Pete Douglas “Douglas Beach House” (Posthumously) 2014
18. Douglas Beach House “Douglas Beach House” 2014 Brick&Motar
19. Ron E. Beck “Douglas Beach House” 2014
20. Tammy Lynne Hall-Hawkins “Café Stritch/Callahan Piano Company” 2014
21. Chester “CT” Thompson “Kuumbwa Jazz Center” 2014
22. Nicolas Bearde “Piedmont Piano Company” 2014
23. Afrikahn Jahmal Dayvs “KPFA/Studio Club 94/Angellicas Bell 2” (Founder) 2014
24. Avotcja Jiltonilro “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2016
25. Pete Fallico “Musically Minded” 2016
26. Diane Whitherspoon “Geoffrey’s Inner Circle” 2016
27. John Handy “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2016
28. KPFA 94.1FM “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2016 Brick & Mortar
29. Mickey Mayzes “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2016
30. Dr. Willis F. Kirk Jr. “CCSF Campus” (Posthumously) 2016
31. Bill “The Jazz Professor” Bell “Castlemont High School” 2016
32. Sandy Poindexter “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2017
33. Ed Trefzger “Olla Restaurant” 2017
34. Lady Bianca “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2017
35. Stanley Lippitt “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2017
36. Kim Nalley “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2018
37. Clifford Coulter “Café Stritch” 2018
38. Clairdee “Café Stritch” 2018
39. Denise Perrier “Café Stritch” 2018
40. Faye Carol “Café Stritch” 2018
41. Sam Edwards "Cafe Stritch" 2018
42. Yancie Taylor “Geoffrey’s Inner Circle” 2018
43. Geoffrey Pete “Geoffrey’s Inner Circle” 2018
44. Geoffrey’s Inner Circle “Geoffrey’s Inner Circle” 2018 Brick & Mortar
45. Leon Joyce Jr. “Geoffrey’s Inner Circle” 2018
46. Caesar Frazier “Geoffrey’s Inner Circle” 2018
47. Jim Callahan “Piedmont Piano Company” 2018
48. Piedmont Piano Company “Piedmont Piano Company” 2018 Brick & Mortar
49. Ruth Davies “Piedmont Piano Company” 2018
50. Ruth Price “Piedmont Piano Company” 2018
51. Rhonda Benin “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2018
52. David Hardiman “Fillmore Heritage Center” 2019
53. Destiny Muhammad “Fillmore Heritage Center” 2019
54. Bobbie Webb “Fillmore Heritage Center” 2019 (Posthumously)
55. Emmitt Powell “Fillmore Heritage Center” 2019 (Posthumously)
56. Barbara Hunter “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2019
57. Pamela Rose “Kuumbwa Jazz Center” 2019
58. Aaron K. Hicks Jr. “Hammer Theatre” 2019
59. Sandy Cressman “Freight & Salvage” 2019
60. Kristen Strom “Freight & Salvage” 2019
61. Lady Sunrise “Freight & Salvage” 2019
62. Prince Lawsha “Santa Cruz Boardwalk” 2019
63. Terrance Kelly “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2019
64. Patricia Wilder “KPFA/Studio Club 94” 2020
65. Bayete' Todd Cochran “Composers Virtual Forum” 2021
66. Mulobo Fred Berry “Composers Virtual Forum" 2021
67. Kenny Washington “Deja Blue" 2021
68. Larry Dunlap “Deja Blue” 2021
69. Ron Belcher “Deja Blue” 2021
70. Heshima Mark Williams “Bird & Beckett Books & Records” 2021
71. Wilbert T Brown “Piedmont Piano Co.” 2021 (Posthumously)
72. Charles Hamilton “Piedmont Piano Co.” 2021
73. Dr. Jaz Sawyer “Piedmont Piano Co.” 2021
74. Hafez Modirzadeh “Piedmont Piano Co.” 2021
75. Christopher Lowell Clarke “Piedmont Piano Co.” 2021
76. Gary Brown “Piedmont Piano Co.” 2021
78. Bishop Ernest L. Jackson “Virtual Celebration Grace Tabernacle Community Church” 2021
79. Janice Maxie Reid “Deja Blue” 2021
80. Tony Lindsay “Deja Blue” 2021
81. Michael O'Neill “Yoshi's” 2022
82. Glen Pearson “Bayview Opera House” 2022
83. Art Maxwell “Bayview Opera House” 2022
84. Azure Mccall “Geoffery's Inner Circle” 2022
87. Jeff Chambers “Freight & Salvage” 2022 (Posthumously)
88. Kalamu Chache “KPFA/JZL Studio B3” 2022
89. Simon Russell “KPFA/JZL Studio B3” 2022
91. Scotty Wright “Deja Blue” 2022
92. Lee Durley “Deja Blue” 2022
93. Angela Wellman “KPFA/JZL Studio B3” 2022
94. Oakland Public Conservatory “KPFA/JZL Studio B3” 2022 Brick & Mortar
95. Ravi Abcarian “KPFA/JZL Studio B3” 2022
96. Oaktown Jazz Workshop “KPFA/JZL Studio B3” 2022 Brick & Mortar
97. Jamie Davis “Campbell Recital Hall” 2022 Stanford Campus
98. Jim Nadel “Campbell Recital Hall” 2022 Stanford Campus
99. Frank R. Fisher “Freight & Salvage” 2022
100. Spencer Allen “Freight & Salvage” 2022
101. Melvin Butts “Freight & Salvage” 2022
102. Nina Causey “Freight & Salvage” 2022
103. David Anthony Hardiman “Freight & Salvage” 2022
104. Muziki Duane Roberson “Kickitorium” 2022
105. Glen Simpson “Kickitorium” 2022
106. Tiffany Austin “Kickitorium” 2022
107. Amy D. “KKUP” 2022
108. Eric Whittington “Bird & Beckett, Books & Records” 2022
109. Bird & Beckett, Books & Records “Bird & Beckett, Books & Records" Brick & Mortar
110. Benny Green “Bird & Beckett, Books & Records” 2022
111. Khalil Abdullah “Bird & Beckett, Books & Records” 2022
112. Rudi Mwongozi “Bird & Beckett, Books & Records” 2022
113. Dezon X. Claiborne “San Ramon Library” 2022
114. John R. Burr “San Ramon Library” 2022
115. Jim Dennis “San Ramon Library” 2022
116. Darryl Choates “Deja Blue” 2022
117. Deja Blue “Deja Blue” 2022 Brick & Mortar
118. Jackie Ryan “Freight & Salvage" 2022
119. Roger Glenn “San Ramon Library” 2022
120. Barbara Natale “San Ramon Library” 2022
121. Christine Harris “San Ramon Library” 2022
122. Modesto Briseno “Three Flames” “Tabard Theatre” 2022
123. Scott Barnhill “Three Flames” Tabard Theatre” 2022
124. Carl Lockett “Backroom” 2022
125. Lloyd Gregory “Backroom” 2022
126. John Santos “KPFA/JZL Studio B3” 2022
128. Paul Tillman Smith “St. Mary's Lutheran Church” 2023
129. Joan Belgrave “JZL Studio B3/KPFA” 2023
130. Sylvia Cuenca “Metropolitan Women's Club” 2023
131. Jeff Saxton “Tabard Theatre” 2023
132. Raymond Nat Turner “JZL Studio B3/KPFA” “Plymouth Church of Jazz and Justice” 2023
133. Zigi Lowenberg “JZL Studio B3/KPFA” “Plymouth Church of Jazz and Justice” 2023
136. Murry Low “Bird & Beckett, Books & Records” 2023
137. J.C. Smith “Tabard Theater” 2023
138. Maestro “Papa C” Curtis “KKUP” 2023
147. David Daniel “Deja Blue” 2023
148. Pete Escovedo “JZL Studio B3/KPFA” 2023
151. Carmen Lundy “KKUP Studio” 2023
155. Ian Dogole “JZL Studio/KPFA” “Oaktown Jazz Workshops” 2023
156. Frank Martin “Oaktown Jazz Workshops” 2023
157. Richard Howell “Oaktown Jazz Workshops” 2023
158. Derick Hughes “Black Repertory Theater” 2023
159. Michael “Spiderman” Robinson “Black Repertory Theater” 2023
160. Peter Horvath “Three Flames” 2023
161. Safi Wa Nairobi “Three Flames” 2023
164. Robert J. Stroughter “Break Room” 2024
165. Frankye Kelly “KPFA/JZL Studio B3” 2024 (Posthumously)
167. David Frazier “Throckmorton Theater” 2024
168. Dante “Taz” Roberson “Break Room” 2024
170. Karl Welch “Hammer Theater” 2024
174. Kev Choice “Break Room” 2024
175. Marcus Shelby “Break Room” 2024
176. Dennis Milton Chambers “Break Room” 2024
178. Omar Sosa “KKUP Studio” 2024
182. Billy Hart “Break Room” 2024
183. Greg Hutchinson “Break Room” 2024
184. Essiet Okon Essiet “Break Room” 2024
185. Larry Batiste “KPFA/JZL Studio” 2024
187. Lenny White “Break Room” 2024
189. Deborah Winters “Throckmorton Theatre” 2024
190. Houston Person “KKUP Studio” 2024
191. Charles Haynes “Break Room” 2024
192. Charles McNeal “Geoffrey’s Inner Circle” 2024
193. Dave Ellis “Geoffrey’s Inner Circle” 2024
194. Eddie M “Geoffrey’s Inner Circle” 2024
195. Craig Handy “Geoffrey’s Inner Circle” 2024
196. Dayna Stephens “Geoffrey’s Inner Circle” 2024
199. Paula West “KPFA/JZL” 2024
200. Dee Spencer “KPFA/JZL” 2024
201. Tim Jackson “Kuumbwa Jazz Center” 2024
202. Paul Contos “Kuumbwa Jazz Center” 2024
203. Jason Lewis “Kuumbwa Jazz Center” 2024
204. Kuumbwa Jazz Center Brick & Mortar 2024
206. Bruce Forman “San Ramon Library” 2024
207. Sundra Manning “San Ramon Library” 2024
208. Damu Sadi Alii “Oaktown Jazz Workshops” 2024
209. MB Hanif “Oaktown Jazz Workshops” 2024
210. Michael Spencer “Oaktown Jazz Workshops” 2024
211. Ollen Erich Hunt “Oaktown Jazz Workshops” 2024
212. Larry Douglas “Oaktown Jazz Workshops” 2024
215. Tarus Mateen “Jazzschool” 2024
216. Marvin “Smitty” Smith “Jazzschool” 2024
BAJABA SIMBA SHUJAA AWARD
77. Grant Levin “Piedmont Piano Co.” 202I
85. Jeannine D. Etter “KPFA/JZL Studio B3” 2022
152. Wil Blades 2023
163. Tenia Renee Nelson “Bird & Beckett, Books & Records” 2023
173. Hassan Hurd “Break Room” 2024
BAJABA GRIOT AWARD
86. Jeannine D. Etter “KPFA/JZL Studio B3” 2022
90. Dawan Muhammad “KPFA/JZL Studio B3” 2022
127. John Santos “KPFA/JZL Studio B3” 2022
134. Zigi Lowenberg “Plymouth Church of Jazz and Justice” 2023
135. Raymond Nat Turner "Plymouth Church of Jazz and Justice" 2023
140. Nola “Mama C” Curtis “KKUP” 2023
153. Carmen Lundy “JZL Studio” 2023
154. Avotcja “JZL Studio/KPFA” “Oaktown Jazz Workshops” 2023
169. Ricki Stevenson “KPFA/JZL Studio” 2024
171. Carmen Fields “KKUP Studio” 2024
177. Janice Edwards “KKUP STUDIO” 2024
180. Venus Jones “KPFA/JZL Studio” 2024
181. Julian Carroll “KPFA/JZL Studio” 2024 MAISHA
218. Faye Carol “Jazzschool” 2024
BAJABA SILVERBACK AWARD
139. Maestro “Papa C” Curtis “KKUP” 2023
149. Pete Escovedo “JZL Studio B3/KPFA” 2023
BAJABA MLINZI WA LANGO AWARD
141. Nola “Mama C” Curtis “KKUP” 2023
150. Juanita Marie Escovedo “JZL Studio B3/KPFA” 2023
162. Carl Yamada “Three Flames” 2023
179. Crystal Calhoun “KKUP Studio” 2024
198. Arturo Riera “KKUP Radio” 2024
205. Bruce Graham “Kuumbwa Jazz Center” 2024
217. Joe Warner “Jazzschool” 2024
BAJABA VIJANA SIMBA SHUJAA AWARD
142. Zahara Curtis “KKUP” 2023
143. Nile Curtis “KKUP” 2023
144. Isis Curtis “KKUP” 2023
145. Khaira Sphere Curtis “KKUP” 2023
146. Phoenix Curtis “KKUP” 2023
166. Joe Warner “Break Room” 2024
172. Ayo Brame “Break Room” 2024
BAJABA SANKOFA AWARD
186. Ron E Beck “Break Room” 2024
188. Dawan Muhammad “Break Room” 2024
197. John Handy “Geoffrey’s Inner Circle” 2024
BAJABA ANCESTORS AWARD
213. Kamau Seitu 2024 “Oaktown Jazz Workshops” 2024
214. Kenneth Byrd “Oaktown Jazz Workshops” 2024
219. Jim Gamble “Jazzschool” 2024