Rebel Salute 29th edition was held January 20 and 21, 2023 at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in St Ann. The Event dubbed “The People’s Show” returned after two years of Government restrictions, fines for breaches of established coronavirus (COVID-19) health protocols and prohibition. It was indeed ‘Food for the Soul’, bringing the healing messages so needed by the people.
Rebel Salute 2023 was bigger and better than ever with few sightings of masks or muffled speech. The consciousness of just being in a space designed for total immersion of a natural Rastafari experience and lifestyle (livity), permeated the air. It was indeed a time for celebration and joy and that is what the Tony Rebel-led “Organic H.E.A.R.T Group of Companies” gave to the patrons of Rebel Salute 2023 this past weekend.
Queen Ifrica (Fyah Muma), one of Jamaica’s finest international cultural Reggae artisté, performed a stunning set and looked the part of royalty in an elegant Africa-patterned gown accentuated with a black Crown. After giving her adoring fans hits like “Randy”, “Jus My Brethren”, “Below the Waist”, “Daddy”, “Lioness on the Rise”, “Fun in our Life” … Queen dropped a new song titled “Proud of Me” and asked fans to sing along. “I’m excited blessings keep coming in; they never saw me fight for me. Proud of mi-self. Welcome to my victory. Chorus: “Proud of mi-self, proud of yourself; Repeat. Yes! Yes! You fi Proud of yourself. Yes! Yes! You fi Proud Lord! …”
During her set Queen said “I have performed on the Rebel Salute stage for 22 years and never missed a night. I am proud of myself. We love our black culture. Our black music, we make sacrifices to see to it that it happens. That is the most important thing.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHds1tdePuE
The festival’s policy to feature select dancehall performers not normally known for "conscious" lyrics under their birth name was put to the test. Patrons saw the "good side” of artistés such as: Rodney Price (Bounti Killa); Capelton (King Shango) and Moses Davis (Beenie Man). Each set was dynamic and outstanding due to the unique reasoning of each entertainer and performance.
Friday’s showcase gave patrons sensational performances from early evening to early morning with dancehall favourites: Papa Michigan of “Rub a Dub Style” & “Diseases” fame; Louie Culture (Mr. “Gangalee”). A fan said of him “This man does his music with passion. Music from the heart and not about hype”. Ernie Smith sang all my favorite Retro songs which took the audience back to yesteryear: “I can’t take it”, “Life is just for Living”, “Pitta Patta” and “Duppy or a Gunman.”
The Rock Top Band lead singer Rafai Chambers and Tangi Chambers gave a world-class performance, featuring songs: “Seek and You Shall Find”, “Strength and My King”, “Thousand Miles” and “They Don’t Want to See Man Rise”.
Saturday’s showcase began with the Children of Icons Queen Ifrica and Tony Rebel - Imeru Tafari, Davianah and Abatau performed exciting sets. Tony Rebel followed with a great set of his popular songs: “Fire”, “Sweet Jamaica”, “Careful what you teach to the Children”, “Jah Is by My Side” (1997); “Fresh Vegetable”, etc. Tony’s son Abatau joined him briefly on stage and gave his perspective on the twelve million sign erected in Montego Bay. He gave a command performance. Tony’s performance and execution were flawless. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMlS4FjGS3E
Headliners and Iconic performers:
Capleton. The Fireman from St. Mary. Gave a stellar performance and discharged his real message after performing his amusing antics. He encouraged the audience “Dash fire on – Injustice, inequality, death without dignity, exploitation, racism, sexism, cannibalism, vampirism global warming, SARS, Antrax, Smallpox and COVID-19. The audience helped him Dash Fire ‘pon’ Babylon while holding a lion paw. The Fireman left the audience red hot with inspiration overflowing with energy and vibration.
Kabaka Pyramid’s performance was a class act. It is clear his message was in the music. Listen and you will hear: “Red, Gold and Green, wave the banner from you know your heart clean.” Kabaka said he wrote Kalling from his heart. The Kalling featured Stephen Marley, Protoje, Jesse Royal…”it’s not about a doctrine, or religion, its my action and decision, some are just lacking vision, children growing up without stable father figure… Brute force on the frontline, Youth Force it’s your time, Rastafari call you, call you. King Selassie I a call you.” “Well done Mr Demolition man, Mr Politician man…Jamaica is a beautiful island and it could a be a much nicer place for I and I to live if we do some serious work with our leadership.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf7piNoez54
Mutabaruka, hosted a new segment as a Referee of Dub Plate Showcase featuring South Sudan’s Dynamq and Female DJ NAZ. The audience got to choose the winner of each Sound Clash session with their applause and later that evening the same method was used to choose the order of performers to come on the stage. Dynamq won the overall Soundclash.
Herb Curb/Mini Green House:
Kathie Lennon, award-winning cannabis grower and advocate gave a winning presentation at the Conference held on Thursday. An original founder of the Herb Curb, she has recently become an Affiliate of SAVE SOIL JAMAICA, an advocate movement founded by Denise Isis Miller and a team of agriculturists and progressive farmers such as Theo Chambers, co-owner of Temple of Inner Peace, a rich-soil oasis for family and spiritual development events. The initiative was inspired by Indian Mystic Sadhguru in 2022. Herb Curb Feature: Mini Green House with Rich Soil from Temple of Inner Peace. There was a showcase of the 5 Plants Launch Project for each family in Jamaica and a Symposium which addressed issues of production, growing strains, saving Jamaica’s soil from extinction, etc. The Symposium held on Friday, was facilitated by Scheril Murray, cannabis, agricultural, dietary supplement and trade attorney and COO for a NY-based nonprofit called the JUSTÜS Foundation (www.justus.foundation).
Wesrok, Reggae Country singer demonstrated his message in a brilliant set. He began his musical journey in 2020 and has catapulted himself to the Rebel Salute stage with a different style by fusing Country music with Reggae. His set included songs such as: “I am a Winner”, “Write your name across my heart (Kenny Rogers)” and new single “Perfectly Imperfect”. Rebel Salute has not seen the last of Wesrok, the ‘BesRok’.
Rebel Salute 29th Edition brought the Message to the People by Jah Messenjah’s Visionary artistes, musicians and entertainers though the power of Reggae Music. If the founders of Rebel Salute were not around, it is clear that the Musical Visionaries of every age would still provide ‘food for the soul’. They would Get Up, Stand Up and Speak Truth to the People. www.rebelsalutejamaica.com
Kabaka Pyramid won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album
at the 66th Grammy Awards ceremony for his album, The Kalling.
He dedicated his win to his mom, his team and Jo Mersa Marley
(@JamaicaGleaner) - Feb 5, 2023.
Top: Ernie Smith,WesRok
Bottom: Kabaka Pyramid and Rafael Chambers lead singer of Rock Top Band.
PHOTO CREDIT: Sharon Parris-Chambers, Caribnewsroom.com
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