 On a small island where the Senegal rivers meet the sea, hundreds of mask-wearing jazz enthusiasts listened to French Senegalese vocalist Awalia Singh the Blues for uncertain times. Last year COVID-19 halted St. Louis Jazz Festival for the first time in its 29-year history. This year it is back, bringing much-needed life to the island of St. Louis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its colonial architecture and pastel-colored houses. African rhythms, funk, gospel and blues could be heard along the narrow streets last weekend, emanating from restaurants, bars and hotels into the early mornings. Built as Africa's biggest jazz festival, it has struggled with dreading attendance since its days hosting headlines like American pianist Herbie Hancock who played there in 1996. But it does draw enthusiasts from across West Africa and Europe and is a source of pride for the city's street performance.