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Rod Hallett |
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Marcia Griffiths & Freddie McGregor |
Damian "Junior Gong' Marley, Tarrus Riley, Morgan Herritage and Shaggy are some of the contempory acts scheduled to perform. Dub poet Mutabaruka and the No-Maddz Band are also part of a diverse card.
While music is the event's dominant theme, as many as 12 Jamaican films will be shown at the venue's Vu Cinema. Several Jamaican plays will also be shown.
"Our whole plan was to make this celebration of Jamaican culture, not just music," Hallett said.
Located in south east London, the 02 Area is a multi-faceted indoor arena that has featured the biggest names in pop music including Bon Jovi. The area hosting the reggae show has a seating capacity of 2500.
It was reggae music that first drew Rod Hallett to Jamaican culture in the early 1970s. Born in Sussex, south England, he said he was blown away by The Wailers' 1973 album, Catch a Fire, and began collecting reggae records as a teenager.