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.
Victor Tony Essiet & The Mandators
Photo Credit: AMR
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Eljai (BelizeUSA) Photo Credit: AMR
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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 super stars like
Victor Essiet & the Mandators, Eljai Royal (Belize/USA), Jethro
Lion, Seyi Shay, Sweat, King Wadada, Emperor Zig-zag, REDfyah (Ghana),
Captain Blazee, 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.
The
show opened with 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 look 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.
Jethro Lion--Photo Credit: David Whyte
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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.
Oritsefemi--Photo Credit; AMR
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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”.The splendid night was caught in 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.
Koffi Da Guru =Photo Credit: AMR
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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
Seyi Shay-- Photo Credit: AMR
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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
few seconds, she still tried to make a means out before sound was
restored. A good one I will say for her.
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 strong energetic presentation. The audience gave them a standing ovation.
Nkulee Dube (Daughter of Lucky Dube)
Photo Credit: AMR
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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, engineer
on point, and lighting on point.
Faith Okosun (Daughter of Sonny Okosun
Photo Credit: AMR
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Another
artiste that performed to the admiration of the crowd is Emperor Zigzag
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.
Malaika-- Photo Credit: AMR
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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.
Captain Blazee
Photo Credit: TOJ Concept
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One
good thing about Africa Meets Reggae festival is that lesser-known
singers are given a lot of time, and 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.
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 company is to be commended for bringing out young, fresh,
new up and coming artistes 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.
Saint Peters-- Photo Credit: AMR
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Presh- Photo Credit: AMR
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Another peculiar favorite 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 Captain Blazee in the
morning. Blazee performed as if the clock stood still for him. His
lively and metrical performance reminded everyone of Joseph Hill of the
Culture fame. I was so glad that he did not go bare chested on the show
which used to be his trade mark. Nice one Captain Blazee.
King Wadada- Photo Credit: AMR
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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.
Noni (Show Opener) Photo Credit: AMR
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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 world and internationally recognized and locals in attendance.
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 artistes to perform
with live band to a large live audience and many more. The Africa Meets
Reggae is a platform that preaches peace, love and unity through music;
to empower the youths/elderly and 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…
REDfyah of Ghana on Stage-- Photo Credit: BSA Media
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Captain Blazee Performing-Photo Credit: TOJ Concept
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Interview Time With Captain Blazee- Photo Credit: TOJ Concept
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Veteran MC- Tolulope "Sweet Batowei with Blazee & Conscious Band
Photo Credit: TOJ Concept
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Interview Time with Jethro Lion- Photo Credit: David Whyte
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Jethro Lion on Stage
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VVIP Interior
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VIP Exterior Seats
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VIP Exterior Seats
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VVIP SECTION
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Jethro Lion on Stage
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Captain Blazee on Stage
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Captain Blazee & The Conscious Band
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#AMR2016 Music Festival
Culled From http://perewinkle6.blogspot.com.ng/2016/12/mandators-eljai-jethro-lion-others.html