By Perekeme Odon
The 3rd edition of
Africa Meets Reggae/World Music Festival; the annual celebration of reggae
and black music has come and gone with its thrills, colours, discoveries,
improvement and flaws still flaunting the city of Lagos.
Started in 2014 by Victor Tony
Essiet of the ‘Mandators’, Africa Meets Reggae has become one of the biggest
reggae festivals in Nigeria and Africa. It is identical with tremendous music,
and usually attracts fans from all corners of the globe. This year’s event,
which took place on the 26 November 2016, featured a large catalogue of
performing reggae artistes, musicians and their counterparts’ world over
to the amazement of the crowd at the Hockey Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere,
Lagos.
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Victor Tony Essiet & The Mandators
Photo Credit: AMR |
The stage was exquisitely designed and a sight
to view with well-lit lights for the finest of the evening to
accomplish. More than 35 of the best musicians were on stage, including
superstars like Victor Essiet & the Mandators, Eljai Royal(Belize/USA),
Jethro Lion, Seyi Shay, Sweat Reggae Band, King Wadada, Emperor Zig-zag,
REDfyah (Ghana), CaptainBlazee, Oritsefemi, Malaika, Presh, Real Man, St.
Peters, Rossie, Big Bob (Sierra Leone) Wazobia Band, Nkulee Dube, Faith Okosun,
Vicky Vick, T-Banks, Connel McCoy, MC Sweet Batowei and a host of others.
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| Eljai Royal (Belize USA) Photo Credit: AMR |
The show opened with an outstanding performance
by Noni at the early hours of the evening and metamorphosed to showcase Real
Man and Papa Latti. The event took a different dimension with the introduction
of a potential tomorrow like Jethro Lion; a Garnet Silk looks and sing alike who
thrilled the crowd with his conscious lyrics in keeping with the preservation
of Reggae music, added with his scintillating performance to the bewilderment
of everyone. This young man has it all and was even voted the Man of the show
by fans that commended his effort compared to last year when he first performed
at the festival.
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| Jethro Lion--Photo Credit: David Whyte |
The festival widely touted as the most authentic
reggae experience in Nigeria, even though it does not get as much promotion due
to less commercialization. The venue, which had been used from the maiden
edition in 2014 as well, blended perfectly with the intended theme and
atmosphere. It was cool and ambient, allowing celebrators the freedom to move
around and enjoy sweet live music.
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| Oritsefemi--Photo Credit; AMR |
Oritsefemi will always be a crowd puller with
his years of experience in the music industry. He was
a favourite of the younger patrons. He gave a fiery
energetic performance and took control of the stage to party with his
fans devotedly to the delights of everyone. I have been to a few concerts
where he was not in top form, but on this night he was in rare form. He sang
audience favourites including ‘Double Wahala”.
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Malaika-- Photo Credit: AMR
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The splendid night was caught on the web when
Malaika was introduced, and the entire equipment ceased to distribute sound. He
stood on stage for some minutes, while the stunning engineers were running
and struggling to fix the slip. Yes, the sound came back and Malaika upped his
performance level, which triggered the peaking of the crowd. His fans were
everywhere to support him, and he never disappointed.
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| Koffi Da Guru -Photo Credit: AMR |
Comedian, musician-cum-actor, Koffi Da Guru will
never cease to amuse his fans. His outing at the intermission point was a kind
of nerves freshening to the crowd. He was uproarious all through his stay on
stay serving out different rib-tickling, but true to life jokes to the
audience, and they loved it. It also afforded them the opportunity to see some
parts of Koffi in its natural elements.
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| Seyi Shay-- Photo Credit: AMR |
Then came Seyi Shay, who many assumed could not
hold her own on a live band but prove all critics wrong. She held sway to
her own and reminded everyone that she was in control. Even when the
equipment was mute for a few seconds, she still tried to make a means out
before sound was restored. A good one I will say for her.
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Nkulee Dube (Daughter of Lucky Dube)
Photo Credit: AMR |
Faith Okosun and Nkulee Dube, daughters of Late
Sonny Okosun and Lucky Dube respectively were highly present at this year’s
festival. They both rendered tunes of their late fathers’ songs with a strong
energetic presentation. The audience gave them a standing ovation.
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Faith Okosun (Daughter of Sonny Okosun
Photo Credit: AMR |
Victor Tony Essiet of the ‘Mandators’ is
one of the greatest Nigerian Reggae singers out of Nigeria; he is
a classic, a great vocalist. I do not hear enough of him at live
concerts apart from the yearly AMR. Most of the artistes gave great sets.
Music, on point, backing band on point, pitch, on point, the engineer on point,
and lighting on point.
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Victor Tony Essiet & The Mandators
Photo Credit: AMR |
Another artiste that performed
to the admiration of the crowd is Emperor Zigzag, formerly known as 'Angel
Zig-zag of the ‘Kpokomkpakamkpokom’ fame. His all-white outfit with a
Mobutu-like cap to match gave him an outstanding presence. I have not seen
Zigzag perform in while after I watched him perform at the Lagos Reggae
Festival on 29 May 2016. Zigzag could do no wrong. He thrilled the
audience with his reflect performances at all time. He was very bold
and confident as an old warlord of the dancehall business right from the early
90s. He also doubled as Victor Essiet of the Mandators’ sidekick by helping him
(Victor) stay afloat while performing.
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CaptainBlazee Performing-Photo Credit: TOJ Concept
One act that stood out in my mind apart from
Akintunde Jimi aka Captain Blazee, Emperor Zigzag, King Wadada, REDfyah from
Ghana, Jethro Lion is Eljai Royal; a famous TUFF GONG reggae and R n B vintage
singer from Belize/USA. In my notes, Eljai has 5 stars*****. Decked in an
all white outfit, with a red ‘papa’s cap to match. He tore the Nigerian sky
down. He sang his reggae classics and then sang the R n B version of the
Reggae versions that he covered. The Nigerian crowd was not really
familiar with him even though that was his second time performing at the
festival, but they loved his style.
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| St. Peters-- Photo Credit: AMR |
One good thing about Africa Meets Reggae
festival is that lesser-known singers are given a lot of time, and the same
respect accorded to their senior colleagues. No segregation whatsoever.
However, in the wee hour of the morning when the show was running late, some
artistes were upset when their set was cut short even though they did not voice
their displeasure.
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| Presh- Photo Credit: AMR |
For all lovers of great action,
not just reggae, this is one festival you must attend. It promises a singular
experience, both with regard to the music and for anyone who appreciates
travelling and being in contact with new cultures. Victor Essiet and the
company are to be commended for bringing out young, fresh, new up and coming
artists and giving them a showcase for their talent. One of the most
talented singers was Jethro Lion; he had a great rootsy voice with a lover’s
rock side. So impressed am I with him, I have mentioned him thrice. That
is what the preservation of reggae music is all about, showcasing the new but
not forgetting and in fact honouring the old.
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| RED Fyah of Ghana Photo Credit: BSA Media |
Other peculiar favourite acts
of mine on Saturday night and early hours included the King Wadada’s
and REDfyah (Ghana) spiritual performances as always. They were never
first-timers on AMR. King Wadada ran the stage in a 360 pattern,
while Red Fyah, in a full-decked white Bobo Rasta costume, adorned with
different peeps and ranks really captivated the yearning of the exhilarating
fans. Then came the former Jamaica-based Rastafarian, Akintunde Jimi aka
CaptainBlazee in the morning. Blazee performed as if the clock stood still for
him. His lively and metrical performance reminded everyone of Joseph Hill of
Culture fame. I was so glad that he did not go bare-chested on the show, which
used to be his trademark. Nice one Captain Blazee.
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| King Wadada- Photo Credit: AMR |
The festival had a section
called the VVIP, described by the organizers as the “venue within the
venue for all performing artistes”. It was a dedicated sector for relaxation
and also marking one’s time to be on stage. The audience sitting arrangement
was splendid as all the seats were encircled with the red, yellow and green
Africa colours to the enchantment of everyone present.
However, the crowd was not too
disappointed with the non-appearance of some advertised acts like Tuface
Idibia, Illness Nana (Ghana), Imeh Bishop, Small Doctor, Patorankings and
Pasuma Wonder, since they were cheerfully entertained to the maximum of the
total event.
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| Noni (Show Opener) Photo Credit: AMR |
Africa Meets Reggae has been an
annual event in Los Angeles, USA, under Echodelic Music and Dub Club
Production. The Festival has permanently had in presence world-renowned reggae
artistes yearly. The African version (authorization) dock on the platform of
Mystic Records USA/Nigeria, a recording and production company being anchored
by Victor Essiet of the Mandators which brought the maiden edition to Nigeria
in 2014 at Hockey Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos and also second
edition in 2015 at Ember Creek Water Front, Ikoyi and Hockey Pitch, National
Stadium, Surulere, Lagos with a message for all and Sundry. The theme for 2015
was “Voice of the Voiceless”, while the theme for this year (2016)
is “One People” with the world and internationally recognized and
locals in attendance.
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Wazobia Band-- Photo Credit: AMR
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The festival is also to
celebrate reggae, its legacy, achievements, and roles in the shaping of the
human perspective to each other. It is meant to provide a platform for budding
and established artists to perform with a live band to a large live audience
and many more. Africa Meets Reggae is a platform that preaches peace, love and
unity through music; to empower the youths/elderly, be the voice for justice
for all citizens of mankind, and create an atmosphere of togetherness amongst
the Nigerian entity, Africa and the world at large. See you next
year, 2017.
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