Ky-Mani Marley and Richie Spice are joint headliners for the inaugural Nimba Reggae Festival which takes place September 5-6 in Conakry, the capital of Guinea in West Africa.

The event also features Richie Spice, Warrior King, Jah Mason, and Takana Zion — Guinea’s leading reggae artiste, and also promoter for the show.

Opening day takes place at Radisson Blu Hotel, with the second day scheduled for Esplanade du Palais.

One of Takana Zion’s partners in the Nimba Reggae Festival is Maka Lox, a Jamaican musician/producer based in France.

“We are trying to bring reggae to Guinea at a different level. Because of Takana and his message, a lotta people get to know reggae and Rastafari, but we want to take it up a notch,” Maka Lox told the Jamaica Observer.

He and Takana Zion were introduced to each other in 2006 by French reggae star Pierpoljak. They have since collaborated on many songs including Sensmillia, Court Case Pending, and In The Ghetto, their latest production.

The latter is one of nine songs on the Congo General rhythm, done for Maka Lox’s Ora Ora Ngaru label.

While he was raised on the music of Guinean artists like Bembeya Jazz National and Keletigui Diabate, Takana Zion was mentored early in his career by singers Tiken Jah Fakoly and Manjul from Cote d’Ivoire, two of the most influential figures in African reggae.

Through his association with Maka Lox, he travelled to Jamaica. Good Life, his 2014 album, was recorded at Tuff Gong studios in Kingston, Jamaica. Takana Zion also recorded songs with Bunny Wailer.

— Howard Campbell

Takana Zion.

Richie Spice.