Entertainment of Thursday, 1 April 2004

Source: By Jayne Buckman-Owoo

Roots To Roots Concert

The W.E.B. Du Bois Centre in Accra will tomorrow be the venue for a musical explosion dubbed Roots 2 Roots Musical Concert featuring Kente Band.

Starting from 6pm and expected to last for about two hours, the concert is a collaboration between the centre and A&C Music Circuit Ltd (Arts Council of England) being put together by Weekend Entertainments Network. Mr Seth Adams of Weekend Entertainment told Showbiz that, the primary objective of the concert is to revive the Du Bois Centre and give Ghanaian and African artistes a platform to promote their works internationally.

? It is also to re-launch the Kente Band and prepare the band for a UK tour later this year,? said Mr Adams who believes that tomorrow?s concert is one that willl leave a lasting impression on patrons, having been packaged to do just that.

Certainly, the organisers are out to give patrons quality time because the Kente Band will feature Fred-Dred and Shasha Marley. Anyone who knows the calibre of musicians these two are can bet that fans will be thrilled. Fred-Dred formed the Kente Band in 1987 and released their debut album Development Plan in 1993 which became an instant hit in Ghana. He toured Germany and the UK in 1997 and performed alongside heavyweights like Buju Banton, third World and Luciano.

Fred-Dred has been elected the best Roots Reggae artiste and will perform alongside Norman Grant and The Twinkle Brothers in the 2004 UK tour.Shasha Marley does not need any introduction, does he? Looks like his fans have missed him and wondering where he has been. Well, a good opportunity to see the reggae monk in action is here.

Shasha Marley started his musical carrier in Sekondi-Takoradi in 1981 from St John?s School Band. He was trained by C. K. Mann and played with Gyadu Blay Ambolley and Paapa Yankson.

In 1990 he was invited by Ashanti Goldfield?s CEO Sam Jonah to start the Gold Nuggets Band, Shasha has played with international stars like Isaac Hayes and Stevie Wonder. He is currently an anti HIV/AIDS campaigner and has many awards to his credit.When these two gurus meet tomorrow at the Du Bois Centre with the renowned Kente Band, it will be nothing but great fun and excitement.