LUCIANO, Etana, Freddie McGregor and Jesse Royal are confirmed for the third annual Peter Tosh Music Festival next month. The tribute unfolds at Peter Tosh Museum in Kingston on October 20, one of four days dedicated to honour the singer whose birthday falls on October 19.

Tosh was killed by gunmen at his Plymouth, St Andrew home on September 11, 1987. He was 42 years old.

“The event (festival) will be different in two aspects,” co-founder of Peter Tosh Museum, Kingsley Cooper told the Jamaica Observer. “First, the concert will feature major acts performing full concerts consisting of their own material, plus one or two Tosh songs in tribute to the great Jamaican icon. Secondly, PULS8’s popular Pepperseed on October 17 will feature a segment dedicated to Tosh.”

The festival commences on October 18, with the second Peter Tosh Gala Awards at Pulse Rooms in Kingston. Categories include The Equal Rights Award, bestowed on an individual making strides in the advancement of equal rights; Steppin’ Razor Award, which honours influential contributors to the arts and entertainment industries; and the Legalise It Award, which acknowledges efforts made by an individual to legalise cannabis and encourage its research.

The festival continues on October 19 with the Peter Tosh Symposium at The University of the West Indies (Mona). It culminates with an excursion to the Tosh mausoleum at Belmont, Westmoreland, on October 21.

Cooper described Tosh as an important Jamaican embraced by the world, and said his legacy is worth sustaining.

“His fight for equal rights and justice, allied with the struggle against apartheid, is an example of his courage and philosophy which he pursued in the face of much adversity. His uncompromising commitment to his beliefs is another,” he said. “Most will remember him for his prophetic and unrelenting advocacy for the legalisation of ganja — he said it was for the healing of the nation; now medical marijuana is being promoted and accepted everywhere.”

Cooper added that, “Accordingly, he is a national treasure and his legacy must be preserved, hence our determination to establish and grow the Peter Tosh Museum.”

Tosh hailed from Westmoreland and was part of the original Wailers, along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer. After embarking on a solo career in 1974, Tosh became known as a militant lyricist and advocate for human rights and equality. His catalogue includes the songs, Equal Rights, Mama Africa, Legalise It, and Johnny B Goode.