General Manager for Jah Mikal Entrainment, organizers of the Roots-Reggae Festival, Francesca Nelson has urged Ghanaians and patrons of the upcoming roots-reggae festival to dissociate the genre of music from marijuana.
According to her, reggae music is not synonymous to illicit cannabis, and so musicians and fans of the culture should dissociate these two to make it appreciable to the masses as well as corporate organizations.
She stressed that corporate organization usually do not want to support reggae concerts due to the perceived attachment it has to Indian hemp, as they consider their public image.”
She was speaking at the launch of the first-ever Roots- Reggae Festival: Year of return edition at Labadi Beach Hotel July 19.
She consented that the festival will be appealing to all, and smoking of marijuana would not be tolerated at the venue.
In an interview with starrfm.com.gh, she said “let us dissociate marijuana from reggae. If you want to smoke before coming and you are caught, that’s on you. We will not condone the smoking of any form during the festival.”
She added “the Roots-Reggae festival is a dream come true. We want to showcase our country to us, as well as outsiders, to boost domestic tourism and tell the stories ourselves. So that the news that goes out the rest of the world, should be from us.
Itinerary for Roots-Reggae Festival
In celebration of the “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” ROOTS REGGAE FESTIVAL has been together to celebrate the unity and strength of the African Diaspora, its contribution to global development and to rally express welcome and collaboration to bring to bear the diversity of expertise, experience to share Africa’s future and give guidance to the youth to strive for greatness.”
The first Roots Reggae Concert will be held at Labadi Beach Hotel, Beachfront on November 30th, then Kumasi Sports Stadium on the 6th of December before Tamale Sports Stadium on 8th of December.
At this moment, the artists confirmed to perform on the festival include GRAMPS MORGAN AND UNA MORGAN from MORGAN HERITAGE, CULTURE REGGAE BAND, KENYATTA HILL, BLACK PROPHET, LEROY SIBBLES, AMANDZEBA, SAMINI, FANCY GADDAM, and many more to be added.
“As a special addition to the three shows, we will also be offering, what we like to call a Wogbe Movement Tour. It is a tour that will take our followers on a 6-day Homecoming Discovery Journey. It will follow the Slave Route in reverse, making scheduled stops along the way, where every stop promises to be a memorable event,” a statement said.
The statement added “finally, we will be conducting a Roots Reggae Master Jam Contest. There will be weekly live Jams consisting of various Music styles that influence and are influenced by Reggae. Winners for each round will be selected by judges and the voting public. The winning band will receive a contract to record with Jahmikal Entertainment and to perform on the next years RRF.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Senanu Damilola Wemakor
