Fans of good reggae music are in for a good time at the Africa Meets Reggae International World Music Festival, which takes place on Saturday, November 29.
It parades some of Africa’s best reggae artistes like Victor Essiet, the brain behind the fiesta, and reggae greats like Orits Wiliki, Ras Kimono, Majek Fashek and a host of others.
There is, for instance, Houston-born Nigerian Janelia McNair Sanya, who brings a unique vibe to her mix of adult contemporary music.
Her musical influences include Sade Adu, Bob Marley, Fela Kuti and Barbra Streisand. She has performed at numerous clubs, colleges, concert series, theatres and festivals including Artscape, Marylands’s biggest arts and music festival.
She has performed opening act for artistes such as Kindred Family Soul and Raheem DeVaughn.
Fashek, popularly known for his ‘Send Down the Rain’ hit, which seemed to coax a rain storm that ended one of the worst draughts in Nigeria’s history. Labelled a “prophet”, Fashek went on to become one of Africa’s greatest reggae-influenced performers. His debut solo album, Prisoner of Conscience, released in 1988, sold more than 200,000 copies in Nigeria alone.
Ras Kimono, together with his Massive Dread Reggae Band, released his debut album, Under Pressure, in 1989. With the popular track, ‘Rum-bar Stylee’, this revealed both a Jamaican and native African influence.
These distinguished artistes will be performing live at the Hockey Pitch in the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. The one-of-a-kind music festival is therefore anticipated to attract thousands of people.