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The Garnet Silk Legacy Fun Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, at Brook’s Park in Mandeville, Manchester. Set to begin at 11 a.m., the event will see children from local schools benefit from school supplies and lunch vouchers, with select students receiving aid for Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examination fees.
Described as “more than a charity event”, the Garnet Silk Legacy Fun Day is a commemoration of a life well-lived and which impacted countless others throughout the world of reggae. Admission is free.
Garnet Silk, whose real name was Garnet Smith, was a forerunner of ‘90s conscious reggae, inspiring music lovers from around the world with his devotion to the Rastafari movement. Among his most notable tracks are classics like Hello Africa, It’s Growing, Zion in a Vision, and the emotive tribute to his mother, dubbed Mama. Often called ‘The Silky One’, Garnet was at the forefront of the Rastafari resurgence of the ‘90s, converting fans and peers to join him in spreading the word of Jah. Silk perished in a fire in 1994, along with his mother, Etega Gray. He would have been 59 years old on April 2.
“The family is beyond ecstatic for the upcoming Legacy Day. It’s a chance to remember Garnet and all the lives he impacted for the better. It also gives us a chance to give a little back to his home parish and together celebrate his life and mission,” said Novlyn ‘Lovey’ Banton, director of the Garnet Silk Foundation and former spouse of the beloved reggae star.
“Garnet did a lot of work in shifting the direction of music in the early ‘90s, and we believe telling his story will enlighten younger — and some older reggae fans — on the indelible mark he left on music and some of their contemporaries today,” Banton shared.
The Garnet Silk Legacy Fun Day will feature various activities, including a track and field competition, a children’s dance-off, a legacy booth sharing the story of the legend’s life and career, and a noteworthy entertainment package.
The day’s music will be provided by Sound Troopa alongside Conquering Lion.
The Garnet Silk Foundation was founded by his wife and children to uphold Garnet’s message and core beliefs while giving back to communities that inspired his mission to improve the world.
English (US) ·