'every genre needs an icon or icons that can drive the music forward on an international level, a symbol that transcends the music.'
The return of Buju Banton to Jamaica and the success of the 'Long Walk to Freedom' tour has shown that reggae still loves an icon. Someone who represents the core struggle that created reggae music. At the moment, I believe there is a global vacuum but for how much longer.
Everything came to an abrupt halt in 2011 when Buju was convicted in the US and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. This could easily have been the end of his career not just because of the time away from the music scene but had Buju lost that magic touch? Well, the Long Walk to Freedom tour has put that notion to bed. His performances have had critical acclaim, Buju is Back!
Reggae has gone global but in this new wave of reggae popularity, it is driven by local preferences. Each reggae market has its own flag bearer, artists or bands that deliver the local brand
of reggae music their followers want. This is great for the diversity of sound and creativity of reggae but, every genre needs an icon or icons that can drive the music forward on an international
level, a symbol that transcends the music.
This is no mean feat. Reggae was blessed by the presence of the likes of Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Even now if you travel to the outer reaches of the world it is likely that their image or name will
be instantly recognisable. These are the heights that the current reggae stars must try to attain.