IRIE FM’s 2015 Marcus Garvey Celebration, held inside the reggae radio station’s courtyard at Coconut Grove in Ocho Rios, St Ann, on Sunday, was just that — one ‘irie’ heritage festival.

Under the theme One Africa, the day-long event began with live outside broadcast of the weekly Running African programme, hosted by Ka’ Bu Ma’at Kheru and Mutabaruka. It was a feast of knowledge-sharing and musical performances.

As one of Garvey’s areas of activities was the promotion and development of the performing arts, the celebration which had special guest speaker Omali Yeshitela highlighting the philosophy and opinion of Jamaica’s first national hero, then climaxing with a showcase of cultural performances, was fitting.

Yeshitela is the founder of the Burning Spear newspaper and the African People’s Socialist Party.

The scores of spectators who flocked the venue, which was transformed into an African marketplace, had their cup filled with entertainment by a host of artistes who added colour to the celebration. Among them Bushman, who delivered the Peter Tosh’s anthem African.

“Garvey understand that we are one African. This is what Garvey understood and fought for. He had the confidence in himself and in us that we can change the world,” said Yeshitela during his speech ahead of Bushman’s performance.

Cherry Natural, Jah Bouks, Contractor, Prophecy, Eek A Mouse, Bongo Herman, Isha Bel, Phocas, Mama Café, Mackie Conscious were some of the other standout performers. Keeping with the spirit of Garvey, throughout the day, there were a variety of traditional cultural groups such as Nyabinghi drummers and chanters, including Prince Tibah and the Sons of Thunder, Prof I-drummers as well as Kumina and Revival groups.

— Basil Walters