Reggae Culture Salute returns to Nazareth Performance Center in Brooklyn on Saturday, Nov. 5 starting at 7:30 p.m.
The event celebrates the 81st anniversary of the coronation of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen of Ethiopia and the unique relationship between rasta, reggae, Selassie and Jamaica.
For 2011, the Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music (CPR) salutes the future of roots reggae by presenting Dub Tonic Kru, Global Battle of the Band Champion for 2010-2011. For many, their historic win earlier this year in Malaysia where they prevailed over more than 4,000 other bands made them the “Usian Bolt” of roots reggae music.
Dub Tonic Kru will be the first recipient of CPR’s newly established Simba (young lion) Award in honor of their dedication to the tradition of roots reggae music.
Another young lion making an appearance at Reggae Culture Salute 2011 is cultural artist, IWayne who debuted at #5 on the Billboard Reggae Chart with his recent release “Life Teachings” on VP Records. IWayne has consistently penned and performed uplifting roots reggae music for his fans the world over. IWayne returns to New York after a one year absence.
Big Youth who received congressional honors at last year’s Reggae Culture Salute is also back by popular demand after last year’s exhilarating performance and will receive CPR’s 2011 Pinnacle Award for Excellence for his more than 40 years of being a pioneer in the industry. Junior “Gabu” Wedderburn with his Ancient Vibration ensemble of traditional nyahbinghi drummers and dancers returns to captivate and enlighten the audience.
The multi-media evening will premiere the screening of the documentary “Bad Friday – Rastafari After Coral Gardens.” The film shares the stories of several Rastafarian elders as well as a retired police officer who were all involved in the horrors visited on the Rastafarian community of Coral Gardens in 1963.
The lineup will also showcase emerging artists from the membership ranks of CPR as the future of roots reggae music is saluted. Representing the New York fraternity of artists are Major Daps with his latest release, “Dapsthology;” Songbird Simone, former harmony singer for Stephen Marley; Coozie Mellers founder of Anthem Band and Qshan Deya who recently walked away with second place honors at the Jamaica Festival Song competition with his big hit, “Everything Tun Up.”
Sponsors for the family event are Dennis Shipping, Courts Caribbean, VP Records, Dragon Stout and Jamaica National Building Society. Media partners include WVIP 93.5 FM, Street Hype Newspaper, ZYNC TV and Jamaicans.com.
Courtesy Sharon Gordon
Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music
