Luciano thumbs up President Jammeh

Luciano aka Kabalaman, one of Jamaica's most influential reggae artist in recent years, has described The Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr  Yahya Jammeh as a champion of peace and called on youth to embrace his leadership qualities for the development of the country.

This, he said has been manifested by his government in empowering the youths to realise their potential as well as to contribute to the socio-economic development of this great nation. The Jamaican reggae giant was speaking at a press briefing last Monday at Sea View Garden Hotel in Kololi, ahead of his upcoming mega concert on Saturday, December 26th and 27th at the Independence Stadium in Bakau and Jokor Brikama respectively.  

The Jamaican star arrived in the country last Friday, December 18th, 2009, at around 2:30 PM, alongside Mickey General, another Jamaican renowned reggae star. The upcoming event is organised by Africa Fest, under the leadership of Latjor Ndow, a Gambian based in the US. However, the event will also mark the permanent establishment of Africa Fest, the global African live music producer of many mega-events in the United States. The company has been featured on numerous occasions by world media bodies such as CNN.

Luciano expressed gratitude and honour to be back in the smiling coast of Africa. "It's great honour for me to come back to The Gambia, " he said, while extolling the young budding stars in the country making headway in the global reggae scene. He expressed his willingness to collaborate with any Gambian star to push their career to the next level.

Mickey General, an original reggae singer, said he hooked up with the great Jamaican star back in 1992. According to him, The Gambia is a nice place and they are proud to be back once again. For his part, Latjor Ndow, proprietor of Africa feast, described the event as historic in the sense this is the first time Africa Fest is launching a big event of this magnitude in the country. Africa Fest, he said, was founded in Atlanta US, backed in 2000, while he was living in the US."

During my stay in the US, I was not only to launch the company but also put on stage renowned artists from Africa which include Grammy nominees such as Youssou Ndour, Baba Maal, Salif Keita, the slain South African reggae star Lucky Dube among others. This, Ndow added enabled him to link with local promoters in US especially Atlanta. The Africa Fest he added is established to help develop the young talents of the continent and bring major international artists to Africa to perform and celebrate African art on the continent and around the world.

A brief profile of Luciano
The Jamaican star has released more than 19 albums in his career composing of some of the most memorable conscious and progressive roots reggae music. Born in Jepther McClymont, on October 20, 1964 in Jamaica, Luciano first began recording in 1992, with his debut single "Ebony & Ivory" on the Aquarius Record label and followed with his debut album 'Moving Up' for RAS records in 1993.