Maroon Fest to feature first live concert

Accompong 's annual traditional celebration, Maroon Fest, will be hosting its inaugural stage show as an additional spectacle to the customary activities.

Maroon Fest is now slated to be a two-day festival, with the traditional annual activities setting the pace on January 5, with the concert on the following day. The celebration is known to showcase the great heritage, traditional folklore, customs and practices that the tribes of the Maroon community still practise. However, Chief of the Accompong Maroons, Richard Currie, anticipates a positive result from this new initiative, noting that part proceeds go to "a worthy cause" - restoring the Accompong Health Clinic.

"The inaugural concert has been in the making for some time but it was more about utilising the opportunity where we have foot traffic in the community to address issues of nature concerning to us and seek the assistance from those who are here. So, Dameon [Gayle, the event's promoter] and I have good friends in the music industry, so I said let's see if we can put something together in a charitable form. Most of who are performing will just be giving their support to the cause," Currie told THE STAR.

He added, "It's about the need for access to proper healthcare and health facilities. We're about 45 minutes away from any emergency or crisis centre and that doesn't suit us. So one of my missions is to install a state-of-the-art facility that can handle certain traumas and injuries. The event won't do the entire thing but it will certainly get the mission going and, hopefully, others would see the pertinence and come on aboard."

According to Gayle, the concert will feature several veteran artistes whose messages and musical impact are aligned with the event's vision.

"Over the years these are artistes that I've worked with closely. I know they would've supported me, even if I didn't have any money. It's fitting that these are the artistes who actually represent the culture. They got the vibes we are aiming for because we're trying to get back to the roots and [re-energise] the community [while] reviving the heritage, and doing it in Accompong is such a special place," Gayle told THE STAR, adding that, most of the artistes are "very supportive" of the concept and even offered their personal equipment and labour.

The artiste line-up includes headliner Warrior King and his Rootz Warriors band, Shuga, Fantan Mojah, Duane Stephenson and Lutan Fyah.

The event also promises to be an educational venture, featuring presentations from dignitaries such as Pan-Africanist Dr Umar Johnson, and Professor Verene Shepherd.

While anticipating a massive turnout, Chief Currie remains positive about the prospect of the event for next year and expressed hope for the concert to become a staple.

"I am very optimistic about it [the concert] because people will come to Accompong no matter what. The goal is to make this a two to three-day event where people can come and camp here because we have a tent village. So it was just a matter of timing and having the right people around," he said.