Back-2-school had me like…oh yes, the annual affair. So good to see so many artistes step up to the task helping out so many families getting the children off to school, well done!But it’s time to ‘ketch-up’ on some interesting stories we missed.
Rita Marley – Woman of Excellence in Africa
When the United Nations’ Women and the African Union Diaspora African Forum (AUDAF) toast their selection with the 2015 Living Legends and African Women of Excellence awards September 12, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Rita Marley, the wife of Jamaica’s greatest artiste and reggae music legend Bob Marley, will be awarded “Woman of Excellence” in Africa.
Rita Marley is among a handful of prestigious women recognized as outstanding females of African descent representing a wide variety of disciplines ranging from entrepreneurs, artists, scientists to social activists.
Two categories of achievers will be awarded ‘Living Legends’ and ‘Women of Excellence’ and Mrs Marley in a statement said, “I am honoured to be counted amongst so many distinguished women …”
Rita Marley a former member of the I-Threes, Founder of Marley Music recording and publishing companies, has supported a myriad of humanitarian causes and advancement projects across the African continent, Jamaica, the Caribbean and the Diaspora. She has displayed her philanthropic and entrepreneurial skill that includes the establishment of a home for teen-aged mothers in Kingston, a health care facility for the elders in Ghana Africa, a recording studio in Accra, distributed school supplies to deprived youth throughout Jamaica, establish monuments and memorials to preserve the legacy of her legendary husband Bob Marley, such as, the Africa Unite concert in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2005, celebrating Bob Marley’s 60th birthday. A free concert that attracted a massive crowd in the city’s Meskel Square. That concert also coincided with a day long symposia, special events held at the United Nations headquarters and a gala VIP ceremony held at the home/place of H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I.
Since that time, Rita Marley has been widely regarded as an advocte for the construction of a dam in Ethiopia that could/would redirect the flow of the Nile River from its Ethiopian source to Egypt.
With a promise to maintain the legacy of her husband Bob Marley in Africa, Rita Marley took the decision to regale his birth in South Africa and Ghana. In Kenya, her name is associated with advancing numerous projects that could benefit the population of the African nation. She has been honoured a living legend in Malawi.
In 1996, Rita Marley was conferred with a doctorate degree from the University of the West Indies. She also received the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government.
Rita Marley recently celebrated her 69th birthday. She was born in Cuba and raised in Trench Town, Kingston where she met Bob Marley. She has claimed twelve children of her late husband and is grand-mother and great-grand mother for more than 60 children.
Konshens Signs with New Management
Music producer and artiste manager Jeremy Harding has signed dancehall artiste Konshens to his 2 Hard Music label. Harding told the Jamaica Observer he had been in dialogue with a number of artistes over the past couple of years about management as he sees potential and the need for ‘a little nudge’ to springboard their careers. So he settled a deal with Konshens whom he believes, “is the one with the most potential by far to make the leap internationally.” Harding further stated that Konshens, “has the audience, the dancehall pedigree, image, musical intelligence and business acumen.”
Jeremy Harding successfully spearheaded Sean Paul’s career to gain international recognition and in the capacity of a producer, successfully landed major hits such as Beenie Man’s Who Am I (Zim Zimma) as well as Tanto Metro and Devonte’s Give It To Her single. “He’s a force…I’m a force, let’s see what happens” he said of his decision to sign Konshens.
Konshens in other news will embark on a month long tour across Europe from ending September through to October. He will be performing along side his brothers and Subkonshus artistes Delus and Darrio.
Producer Undertakes Major Task of Keeping Caribbean Music Mainstream
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| Supa Dups |
Grammy winning Jamaican Reggae/Dancehall producer Supa Dups has made a move towards keeping Caribbean music mainstream. Supa Dups outlined plans of finding a permanent home for Caribbean music in mainstream America, “where reggae is concerned, it is not as big as it could be because the unity is off. As soon as we can work together, then we’ll have a vibrant industry again” he told the Observer. “The industry is there, but our successes come in spurts, like a novelty, and like every couple of years you have a one song like Cheerleader (by OMI) or a Gimmie Di Light (Sean Paul) come around.”
To fulfill that dream, the Florida-based producer organised a strong contingent of some of the best producers, artistes, songwriters and engineers to create about 30 songs then use their connections to shop them for mainstream. The group which came together in a four-day camp at the Circle House studios of Reggae band Inner Circle in Miami included Ward 21’s Andre ‘Suku’ Hendricks and Kunley, Stephen McGregor, deejay Kranium, singer/songwriter Krishane Levy, songwriter Daniel Daley, producer/songwriter Rock City, singer/songwriter Angela Hunte, producer Dre Skull, DJ Buddha, Rapper/producer Verse Simmonds, producer/engineer Kacey Phillips and DJ/Producer Willy Chin.
The Black Chiney sound, co-founder and owner Supa Dups explains that the first-time ever project by the group is “a blend of new flavour and experience.”
#NIPnews
Source: Jamaicans.com Jamaica Observer
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