THE Conscious Reggae Party series debuted at its new location — the Food Fountain Restaurant in St Andrew — last Friday.

This well-attended edition of the two-year-old monthly live event also marked the official opening of the eatery.

Held on the eve of African Liberation Day (ALD), the show promoted a wholesome lifestyle as well as the significance of the day first observed in 1958 as African Freedom Day.

The presentation of self-proclaimed ‘reggaelutionary speaker’ Errol McDonald of reggae band Chakula, was a mix of history and music.

He related how on May 25, 1963, 31 African heads of state convened a summit to form the Organization of African Unity (OAU). They eventually renamed African Freedom Day African Liberation Day and changed the commemorative date to May 23. By then more than two-thirds of the continent had achieved independence from European colonial rule.

“While we must come together to celebrate ALD and the successes and the victories of our freedom fighters and martyrs, we must still recognise and come to terms with the fact that the struggle to free Africa and its people worldwide is still on in earnest,” said McDonald.

During his informative discourse, he entertained with original songs like Freedom and Downtrodden People.

Backed by the Fuzion Band, McDonald’s daughter, singer Kelissa McDonald, connected with her fine performance of Africa, Babylon is Burning, Best Love and No More Trouble. Other fresh acts, Steppa, Samor-I and Lazah

Current showed promise.

But it was veteran singer Mikey General from who gave the night’s most stirring performance.

He stirred the crowd with The Way of Sinners, Guide Me, African Glory, Unseen Blessings and Born to Lose.

Focusing on his current material, chanter Ijahman Levi,

failed to make an impact. Despite a promising start, his acoustic style went flat.