Honiara residents will conclude the festive season and welcome the 2014 with Jamaican reggae star Julian Ricardo Marley A.K.A “Juju”, one of reggae legendary Bob Marley’s sons, on 8 January 2014.
Organisers will use the concert to promote unity, peace and harmony within our nation.
The historic event is planned, organised and presented by Rebelle Inc Production.
The live performance will be staged at the SINU Panatina Rugby Field with the gates opening at 2pm.
A featured band to perform alongside Julian is our local sensation, 2011 and 2012 award winning ‘Solo artist of the year’ Jahboy (Kirwan Hatigeva).
Julian Marley, born to Lucy Ponder on 4 June 1975 in England, Grammy award nominated, roots-reggae musician, singer-songwriter, producer and humanitarian in same tradition as his father is, a devout Rastafarian whose music is inspired by life and spirituality.
His passion for reggae music developed at an early age, becoming skilful, self-taught musician mastering the bass, drums, guitar and keyboards.
He reflects, “From a small age music has been in my life, it was just a natural thing.”
During his formative years he studied the music under some legendary reggae veterans in the 1900’s.
He then formed a band called the ‘uprisings’ compromising of young Jamaican players which led him to meet up with his other brothers Ziggy, Kymani and Damian Marley which known today as the Marley Brothers.
Together they formed a group project called Ghetto Youths Crew which toured the world.
Julian’s first album in 1996 entitled ‘Lion in the morning’ made him become a public reggae icon to the culmination of his father.
He continued to contribute to vast range of musical elements to other artist in production with his famous platinum-selling Chant down Babylon, a remix album by various hip-hop and rock artists covering Bob Marley & the Wailers songs.
After touring with his brothers many times he created a worldwide fan base for himself. He now embarks with his own band and continues on to tour the world.
Julian’s highlighted performances were the ‘Africa Unite’, Ethiopia in 2005, Ghana in 2006 and in Jamaica in at the invitation of the Jamaican government, during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, and celebrated along-side Jamaica’s Gold medal-winning runner, Usain Bolt.
In 2009, Julian Marley’s career rose to new heights with the success of his Grammy Award Nominated release entitled, Awake released on Ghetto Youths / Universal Music Group.
The album blends R&B, HIP HOP and dancehall co-produced with his brothers was inspired by Julian’s life and spirituality which skilfully weaves diverse musical styles into a set of hypnotic beats and soulful vocals.
In May 2010, Awake took home the award for ‘Best Album of the Year’ at the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) in New York City.
Marley’s tour with The Uprising continually expanded in 2010, and performance dates found the reggae singer-songwriter circling Europe, and scheduling back to back headlining performances in the U.K., Greece and South America.
A humanitarian at heart, Julian Marley naturally on charitable missions has contributed to Ghetto Youths Foundation in the spirit of his father Bob Marley, allowing the socially conscious Marley to give back to youths in various communities. Julian consciously looks towards finding ways to help build positive guidance to benefit children.
In February, 2010 Julian and his brother Kymani Marley, alongside the Ghetto Youths Foundation produced a ‘Miami for Haiti’ benefit show with all proceeds going to various charities aimed toward Haitian relief efforts.
Julian urges, “If we have the time, if we have the resources, we must rise to the occasion to help our brothers and sisters in every way possible.”
His series of tour to the Pacific this year starts on January 2 in Sydney, 3 in Melbourne, 5 in Taupo NZ, 8 Honiara and 11 at Brisbane.
Recently Julian sent a shout out to the Solomon Islanders via YouTube expressing his aim and excitement to come over and perform.
He concludes the clip with a message “one love, one aim and one destiny to the brothers and sisters out there- Unity is the solution”.
According to organizers Rebelle Inc, they want to ensure this event is safe and successful.
The Police and local security firms will be engaged to control the crowd as expected.
Julian has a Facebook page of the ‘Umi Wan Festival’ and also a Google page which you can visit: http://www.julianmarley.com
TEDDY KAFO
SINU Journalism student