The year has started really well for Blakk Rasta and the Herbalist Band. After a historical performance before H. E. Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe some few weeks ago, and the conferment of an ambassadorial title on him by Zimbabwe Tourism Ministry, they have received another call to perform at the second edition of Festival International De Reggae D’Abidjan in Ivory Coast from the 7th to the 10th of April 2016. This comes on the heels of a loving performance in support of a brother, Ras Preachaman in Tamale.
The emergence of music festivals across the world has lent credence to live band music thereby setting apart studio artistes and musicians capable of mesmerising fans with live renditions of their music. Apart from the feel good factor, which fans get from these festivals, they get to meet amazing artistes from diverse cultural backgrounds, which tells from the different styles of music played at these festivals. Artistes on the other hand get an opportunity to often reach very large audiences from varied backgrounds, which often turns out to bring more business to the musicians who are mostly made up of the leader and his band.
Africa has not been left out on the trend; with music festivals gradually taking center stage on the entertainment calendar of many nations. We expect to see a lot more African music assume contemporary status because of the new reach that festivals offer.
Festival International De Reggae D’Abidjan is a Reggae music festival, which was first staged last year with a wide array of stars from various nations. Notable among performers were Morgan Heritage, Mutabaruka, Ki-Many Marley, the I-Threes, Third World,Chris Black Well,Dr. Garvey,Elikia M’Bokolo,Alain Foka,Ousmane Outarra and Tiburce Koffi.
The 2016 edition which features our own Blakk Rasta and the Herbalist Band, will have Mo-Kalamity from Cape Verde, Tiken Jah of Ivory Coast, Ishmael Isaac also from Ivory Coast & Mirna Haje from Libya. A host of other surprise artistes will be on the 4 day festival which will bring alive the city of Abidjan.
With a 12-man band, Blakk Rasta has another opportunity to promote Kuchoko music, which is basically Reggae music fused with more African traditional instruments. Don’t be surprised to see a xylophone up on stage because the Kuchoko King has a lot of surprises up his sleeves this year.
TheSavannahOnline