Hezron happy to headline reggae festival in Nigeria

Reggae artiste Hezron is scheduled to close out 2023 by headlining the Abuja Reggae Festival in Nigeria and he is counting his blessings, having had what he called a “busy and fulfilling” year.

The singer described himself as a “man on a mission” – borrowing the title of his 2022 Tads Records-produced album – and shared that this concert is a huge opportunity to expand his audience.

“My music is diverse and made for all to enjoy. Africa has welcomed me with open arms, starting with my tour in Ghana, and then by being a specially invited guest to the capital city of Nigeria for the Abuja Reggae Festival. This year has been a busy one with different events locally in my homeland, Jamaica, and ending the year by travelling to the Motherland. I’m definitely a man on a mission. I am so grateful and feeling blessed at this point in my career. Who knows what opportunity will present itself next?” Hezron said.

The Abuja Reggae Festival, to be staged on December 13, is marketed as an African and Caribbean link-up through reggae music. It was started five years ago by CEO Ishaya Urbanus, better known in music circles as ‘Murphy Dread’, and this year the organisers have partnered with Star ReggaeBeat from Jamaica to expand the audience and make this annual event bigger and better.

“Reggae music is popular and well received in Africa, so it only made sense to reach out and unite with others internationally to promote what the Abuja Reggae Festival stands for – peace, love and unity. More than ever, this is needed in our world today. Music has the power to achieve the values that we stand for,” Murphy Dread declared.

He stated further that Star ReggaeBeat united the genres of Afrobeats with reggae through the Rayconex-produced single Bring Your Love by Nigerian Afrobeats-dancehall artiste Malam Spicey and Hezron. Born in Ajegunle, Lagos, Nigeria, Malam Spicey’s early influences were Terror Fabulous, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Don Carlos, Capleton, and Sizzla. He launched professionally into the Nigerian music scene in 2004, and released his debut album Special Request in 2010.

Bring Your Love hit No.4 on the US iTunes Reggae Chart in September, and this opened the door internationally for Star ReggaeBeat and gave this company visibility overseas. The organisers explained that although Afrobeats as a genre is all-encompassing in and outside of the continent, reggae music still has a stronghold and that new and aspiring artistes look forward to this annual event, as it is their opportunity to showcase their musical talent to the world.

‘Reggae has grown’

“This is an indication of just how much reggae has grown in popularity and versatility. In Nigeria, Afrobeats is the popular genre, but reggae has always had its supporters and audience in Africa. I wouldn’t say that the two genres are competing, they both stand on their own in their own respect. The reggae audience is growing and is a loyal one. The rise of new reggae artistes locally in Nigeria proves that reggae is very much alive and will continue to grow in popularity,” Murphy Dread stated.

He expressed his gratitude at having Star ReggaeBeat on board this year, as well as the support of other sponsors such as L3 Magazine, Ray Power FM Nigeria, AIT TV Nigeria, Metaverse, Matsumoto Production, Idaago Media, ITV, Love FM and Akweya TV. He noted that the diversity in this year’s media sponsorship is facilitating a powerful global promotion and media coverage of the event.

“Reggae is alive and the music community is coming together to provide a platform for new and ambitious artistes. Reggae is an outlet to voice our joy and our challenges as a people, while providing upliftment and encouragement. Similar to Jamaica and other parts of the world, the beautiful people of Nigeria use reggae music as a coping mechanism to face the daily struggles, to voice their opinions about current situations, and also to celebrate their accomplishments, while having a good time,” Murphy Dread elaborated.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com