The Sunday Mail
TOP Jamaican reggae artiste Luciano, born Jepther McClymont — says today’s young artistes should follow the footsteps of Bob Marley — just like his generation did.
Speaking soon after his arrival in the country on Tuesday last week ahead of his performance at the Pacific Sunsplash at the Glamis Arena last Friday, Luciano said youths have lost their way.
The Messenjah (Messenger), said elders needed to move fast to bring the youths back on track because they are losing their way.
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“Youths have lost their way, we need to get them back on track. We need to teach them to have respect for elders.
‘‘Grandparents, mothers and young children listen to their music — yet it is not clean.
Hip-Hop artistes look up to us because they sing music without meaning — but now our youths are losing their way as well.
“If we sit back, soon there will be guns on the streets. We need to govern this thing — youths need to have a little respect,” said Luciano.
Meanwhile, Luciano commended award-winning radio station Star FM, saying they had contributed immensely to the growth of reggae-dancehall in Zimbabwe.
“Since my first visit I see a lot of growth and improvement here that would not have been the case without a proper radio station like Star FM,” he said.
The 50-year-old Jamaican superstar is on an African tour, which has seen him perform in South Africa and is set to take him to Malawi and Ghana.
“We have to start to learn to live together as Africans and stop all this fighting,” said Luciano on the significance of his tour of the continent.
“The Messenger is about delivering music and a message to the people.”
Initially, the “Sweep Over My Soul” hitmaker was supposed to have performed in Harare at the Sting 2014 show on November 1 last year but cancelled the trip due to the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa.
The Messenger began recording in 1992, with his first single “Ebony and Ivory” on the Aquarius Record label, followed by his debut album “Moving Up” in 1993.
