About

DOJACMC Foundation, (Development of Jazz and Creative Music) was established on June 29^th, 2015,

By the late jazz legend and educator, saxophonist, John James Willekes, Jr. “JJ COOL” and his wife, sra. Edna Monifa Willekes-King “LadyMo” together with Bahari Hassan, created a phenominal musical concept called DOJACMC Foundation. (Development of Jazz & Creative Music Curacao).

The philosophy and purpose of the DOJACMC concept, was to expose the Curacao community to the continuation of the rich musical heritage and legacy of jazz music which was created 125 years ago. Today it remains as of of the true, American “Artforms” created by descendants of slaves.

As one of the leading jazz Foundations in exsistance in Curacao today, the FoundersVice-president, respectively, set out on a missión to: 

• Offer free public continuos jazz music concerts. 
• Present jazz lectures & jazz concerts in educational institutions.
• Create free jazz music concerts for children in the underserved communities via their “Flagship” program called “3LC-Look, Listen & Learn”.
• To promote the UNESCO global philosophy and principals of jazz music. 
• To inspire, uplift and to entertain.

In January, 2020, DOJACMC Foundation, created a new board consisting of Co-founder/President, Mrs. Edna Monifa Willekes-King”LadyMo” Foundation Advisor, Jazz music legend, Gilbert Braaf and Treasurer, Mrs. Aisheline Willekes-Schoop.

In the short period of 2 years, under the direction of President “LadyMo” this team has created and implemented a wide range of creative, educational jazz inspired projects, in spite of the global and local “COVID-19” mandates.

 By utilizing “Virtual Platforms”, they successfully organized projects in Curacao in 2021, starting off with a collaboration with the National Library (Biblioteka Nashonal Korsou) to celebrate the global, International Jazz D(IJD) via a “Virtual Jazz Day Celebration”. The foundations next event was held at the National Archives (Archivo Nashonal) which paid tribute to jazz legend, the late, John James Willekes, Jr. ”JJ COOL” with an Exhibition and Concert Series from June to October, entitled “The Future of Jazz in Curacao”. DOJACMC’s final presentation for 2021, was held at the University of Curacao (UoC) in November, in which 6 lectures were given and closed with a jazz concert by band leader, Eric Calmus and the Curacao Jazz Legends Band. 

Who is Edna Monifa Willekes “LadyMo?”

A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Edna is a child of the Civil Rights Movement of the South. Her father, the late. Gospel singer, Rev. Floyd King, her older brothers and sisters all participated in the civil rights movement of the960s. as youth activist who also marched along side with their friends, together with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Jessie Jackson and Angela Davis, just to name a few, an effort to bring social change in discrimination, and education in Birmingham. In 1964, one of her older sister, Carolyn, became the 1^st Black student in their community who integrated as a “Lone Integrator” in an “All White” middle class school in their community, where Edna would also graduate from. 

As a resident of New York, the “Art capital of the world” she was exposed to a wide range of art and music in the big apple, receiving profound knowledge in African Art and design. In addition to becoming a college graduate in Interior Design and a “Single parent” as a hobby she also liked, wall painting, fashion design and making jewelry, decorating however was her most important craft.

It was in New York, that she would eventually meet and marry her prince charming, jazz saxophonist, John James Willekes, Jr.

In 1984 they relocate to Curacao as a dynamic team who would make history here on the Island, and the rest is history.

John James Willekes, Jr. (12/23/1956 – 12/26/2019)

Is a professional Curacao born artist, born in Willemstad, Curacao in 1956 and passed away in 2019. He fell in love with the saxophone and started to play it at age 10. John is a recipient of the Curacao Galardon Victrola award for “Best performing jazz artist 1988” and is well versed in several music styles. He goes down in Curacao jazz music history, as a versatile solo artist extraordinaire and a master of improvisational jazz saxophone, performing on the sax, clarinet, and flute.

In the early 80s, John James relocated to Brooklyn, NY, and starts his USA performing and teaching career. he later becomes a student of the legendary jazz saxophonist and pioneer, Frank Foster, who directed the Count Bassey Band, after his death. After meeting his wife, manager, Edna Monifa Willekes ”LadyMo”, he relocated this family to Atlanta, Ga. where he became a fixture, and established his own jazz band as band-leader, called “Earmail”. One of John’s biggest honors in Atlanta, was having his image featured on dozens of Street Banners for several years at the at the “Mid-Town Music Festival” Earmail was also a feature artist at The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in Birmingham. Their recording is, EARMAIL “Live for Today”.

John James “JJ COOL” returns to Curacao and becomes a founding member of the 1^st Curacao Jazz Foundation and organizes the 1^st Curacao Jazz Festival. He is the founder of DOJACMC Jazz Foundation, which still exists today. Opens his own School of Music, establishes 2 jazz bands, giving performances at Universities, Night Clubs, Hotels, Parks, and was a participant at the International Jazz Day Festivals in Curacao, for the last 4 years. “JJ COOL” gave free jazz concerts to underprivileged children in all barios called the 3LC “Look, Listen & Learn” project, in an effort to inspire the next “jazz-gen” of youth from Curacao.