Just what Bob Marley was trying to tell us when he chants "Play I some music, dis a reggae music. We bubbling on the top 100, just like a Mighty Dread".

If anyone still doubts the power and reach of reggae music internationally, he or she only has to acquaint themselves with the itinerary of the summer reggae festivals across the globe each year. Summer reggae festivals have given interpretation to the prophetic lyrics of the reggae king quoted above.

Since the release of his Roots, Rock Reggae single a generation ago, summertime across the world, but moreso in Europe, has never been the same. It has been redefined. It is now that time of the year when the Jamaican cultural ethos; beginning the lexicon of its people; the worldview of Rastafari and its colours of identity; on the wings of reggae music take centre stage. It's colonisation in reverse, to borrow a phrase from the mother of Jamaica's culture, the late Louise Bennett.

This year, the impact of reggae throughout the world during the months of summer, will be no different from in previous years. Artistes who will be touring Europe this summer are Luciano, Buju Banton, Ce'Cile, Jah Cure, Beres Hammond, Tarrus Riley, Queen Africa, Etana, Sizzla, Lady Saw, Jimmy Cliff, Ken Boothe and Shaggy among others who are featured on such festivals as Reggae Summerjam in Cologne Germany; Rototom Sunsplash in Italy; Sundance Festival in Holland; Upsala Reggae Festival in Sweden, Austrian Reggae Festival in Vienna, Austria; Door Reggae Festival in Belgium; Aritza Festival in Italy; Bercy Reggae Festival in Bercy France; Barcelona Reggaefest in Barcelona Spain.

On August 8-9, Andrew Tosh will be in full flight in Morocco; Julian Marley and his Uprising Band along with Brazilian singer Soraia will head off to South America in July for a series of shows; while the Cool Ruler Gregory Isaacs and the Live Wyya Band will spread the reggae vibes in Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Martin, French Guyana and Lima, Peru. The Mighty Diamonds are set to sparkle in North America for no less than six weeks during which they will perform on the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (sic) in California.

In the celebration of the coming together of two political parties who a few months ago were at war with each that took almost two thousands lives, Luciano will be in Kenya from July 29 through to August 5, for the Love and Unity concerts in Nairobi.

The first week of August will find Marcia Griffiths, Chuck Fender, Sanchez, Bushman and Live Wyya Band performing a series of shows in Japan, while Luciano will be carrying reggae banner in Australia and New Zealand, along with Jack Scorpio the winner of the recently held Giants of '80s' Sounds Final Showdown, at the Mas Camp, New Kingston. As the opening act to Luciano, the veteran producer/selector will for the first time spinning discs down under.

After a tour of Japan, veteran tour coordinator/manager Copeland Forbes, who along with his agent Eddie Brown of the UK-based Pride Music, is responsible for most of the reggae tours trekking around the world this summer, will be heading off to Bangkok, Thailand in August, to meet with promoters with a view to coordinate and arrange a few reggae concerts in that country as well as Cambodia and cities in and around Vietnam.

Forbes told the Sunday Observer that despite withdrawal of sponsorship support by Red Stripe International, this summer is going to be one of the most hectic for reggae ambassadors. "All in all this summer will be one of the busiest for reggae music around the world," Forbes said.

Commenting on the withdrawal of Red Stripe sponsorship from reggae events, he added; "Since the pull out of Red Stripe from sponsoring reggae concerts in Jamaica and around the world...they always have some sponsorship in many overseas concerts in addition to Reggae Sumfest and Sting, I was a little worried....but I decided to take a serious look at the number of tours, festivals and concerts appearances by our entertainers this coming summer and I realised that our music has the fuel to keep moving from strength to strength," Forbes declared.

'What was I thinking?' Chris Brown speaks out

Fashion Saturday

Colourful Coif