Grammy award- winning reggae and dancehall artiste Buju Banton has been confirmed for this year’s Summerjam Festival, held annually in Cologne, Germany. Buju will headline the Red Stage on Saturday, July 6. This is the first European show announced for Buju’s highly anticipated Long Walk to Freedom Tour.
Hailed as one of the biggest reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop festivals in Europe, Summerjam has been held for over 34 years, showcasing appearances from international music stars from all over the world. Past Summerjam stages have carried some local legends, including Buju. It was one decade ago that the Gargamel appeared there, alongside reggae acts Bunny Wailer, UB40, Anthony B, Sly & Robbie, Junior Kelly, Bitty McLean, U-Roy, Glen Washington, Pablo Moses, Horace Andy, and Freddie McGregor.
Still, the musical torch continues to blaze, and this year, Jimmy Cliff, Popcaan, Protoje, Kabaka Pyramid, Agent Sasco, Samory I, Richie Spice and sensational newcomer Koffee are the Jamaican acts advertised for Summerjam 2019.
Special Staging
According to the organisers, this year will be very special in light of UNESCO’s official declaration of reggae music as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Although this announcement marks the first of Buju’s European dates, the reggae star will have already been on the road for some time. Following his official re-entry to the stage on March 16 at the National Stadium in Kingston, Buju will perform in Nassau, The Bahamas, on March 30.
That show is set for the Thomas A. Robinson National Sports Stadium and is being promoted by Bahamian firm Paradise Productions.
He is also set to perform in Trinidad on April 21 at the Queen’s Park Savannah in a concert dubbed ‘I Am Legend’. Buju will then travel to Barbados for the Barbados Reggae Festival at Kensington Oval on April 27.
Before heading off to Europe, he will perform at the St Kitts Music Festival, which will take place from June 26 to 30. There, the deejay joins a strong line-up that includes Smokey Robinson, Popcaan, French Montana, and Davido.
