It’s reggae time with Julian Marley |04 November 2005

He arrived on the Air Seychelles HM054 flight from Mauritius along with members of his Uprising band.

After giving a wonderful performance in Mauritius last weekend, Julian Marley will bring pure reggae music to Seychelles by performing live at Stad Lanmizik on Saturday night.

Speaking to the local media in the Creole Holidays kiosk at the airport, Julian Marley said that he is here “to spread in perfect unity and love, the reggae music.”

He has been invited here to perform in an Aids awareness concert in support of the Faith and Hope Association (Faha).

While talking about his father Bob Marley, Julian Marley, who recorded his first song at the age of five, said that “it is good to know that our father was very positive and a good humanitarian. It feels good to know that his work is so great among the people.

It is the best thing to know. Our father’s music has uplifted the people and that is the best for me.”

Stating that he is not following in his father’s path, Julian Marley said that although he is the son of Bob Marley, he is who he is.

“This legend (my father) is part of my heritage and I try to do what is real and natural”, he added.

Born in London, Julian Marley, 30, has devoted himself to a life in music, mastering a variety of instruments and writing songs that reflect his dedication to spiritual upliftment and social change.

The veteran performer noted that he gets inspired by "God and life as well as by the people" when doing music.

Sporting dreadlocks  like his father, Julian, who noted that they love all kinds of music, said that they will perform popular reggae tracks from his father’s repertoire as well as those from his three albums – Uprising, A time and place and Lion in the morning.

Among the many musicians in the Uprising band is keyboard player Roland Lyefook who is of Seychellois origin.

Born in the United Kingdom, Roland’s mother is a Seychellois named Elise Sinon and his father is a Jamaican.

Saturday’s show will start at 7 p.m. and will see the participation of Seychellois musicians as well.

Julian and his band will start performing at 9 p.m. and reggae fans should look forward to hearing songs like Lion in the Morning and He Stands as well as tracks like One Love by Bob Marley.