LIMPOPO'S naturally designed garden is soon to be enhanced by a cultural heritage event to bolster the talents of its artists.

The Jazz in the Garden music festival will finally bring honour and recognition to what has been described as God's own designed natural garden in the lush and picturesque town of Tzaneen.

The festival is pioneered by Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale, who presented it to the local cultural community as a first grade event that can compete with the best in the world.

What's more, the festival will seek to uplift and expose artists whose roots are in Limpopo though they might be plying their trade elsewhere in the world.

The excitement generated by the announcement has led to speculation that this festival is going to be a regular annual calendar event.

The challenge is for organisers of this event that aspires to compete with the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in finding the right artists.

Veteran actor Jerry Mofokeng, who is part of the organising committee, says a critical objective of the event was to have many artists from the province take part.

"This is a homecoming in a way. For an artist to be considered, she or he must have a relationship with the province. That is critical to us.

"We have put our foot down and we are not going to apologise for it. Charity begins at home. We are going to look for artists who have their feet in the province. That is an undisputed fact," Mofokeng said.

It appears that by virtue of their Limpopo roots, jazz maestro Selaelo Selota and his ex-wife, Judith Sephuma, have already booked a spot.