At Wednesday's press conference

Organisers for reggae group Culture’s encore performance in Seychelles say that the artists’ second coming will be one of the biggest musical events in the country to date.

Speaking on Wednesday December 3,  at a press conference at O’Brien House in Le Rocher, officials from Seychelles Breweries Limited (SBL) and the three principal members of the harmony group, including lead vocalist Joseph Hill, said that the two planned performances – Wednesday night’s (December 3), concert at the International Conference Centre and Saturday’s show (December 6), at Stad Lanmizik – would be a great follow-up to the Eric Donaldson concert that was hosted in March.

Guy Hall, one of the event organisers, predicted that Culture’s two shows would amount to the “biggest concert ever” in Seychelles, which would be a far cry from the group’s performance in 1993, when it had to be cancelled due to rain.

Denis Payette, SBL’s marketing director, said that although the concert promoters obviously cannot control the weather, arrangements have been made to protect the band’s equipment if rain was in the forecast.

“The stage will be covered, so they will be able to play,” said SBL’s managing director, Andrew Richardson.  “And if Culture is playing, I am sure people will be there to listen.”

The rain, however, was not a concern for Culture or its fans last night, as the show was held in the dry confines of the conference centre.  But Mr Hill said the roof served only a trivial purpose.

“Physically, the roof will be there,” he said at yesterday’s press conference.  “Spiritually, it will not.”

Such quotes were characteristic of Mr Hill’s cryptic and often riddle-laden speech on Wednesday.

“This is not a tedious job,” he said, describing how Culture has managed to keep its music fresh going into its latest record, World Peace, the group’s 30th album.  “To sing makes you happy. Happiness is a good habit to have.”

In addition to tracks from World Peace, Mr Hill said Culture would be varying the play lists for its concerts to give Seychellois some of their traditional favourites.  In typical fashion, the singer likened the two shows to an omelette for breakfast and a stew for dinner that were cooked from the same frying pot.

For SBL, it will mark the second time this year the brewery has sponsored an internationally acclaimed reggae artist to perform in Seychelles, following Eric Donaldson’s concert and shows from O’Yaba and Shaggy in previous years.

According to Mr Richardson, SBL was actually approached by Mr Hall and others close to Culture about sponsoring the concert, which was conveniently arranged around the Nairobi stop on the group’s current World Peace tour.

Mr Richardson said he expected even bigger things out of Culture’s appearances in comparison to March’s concert, as the group has brought with them the full complement of its band, along with their own sound and technical people.

While it is the second trip to Seychelles for Mr Hill and background vocalist Albert Walker, it is the first for the third member of the group, Telford Nelson.  But Mr Nelson said that he still felt right at home, as the country reminded him of his native Jamaica.

“You have the same sunshine,” he said.  “The same beautiful, smiling people.”

Mr Hill and Culture touched down in Seychelles on Tuesday December 2.  Saturday’s concert at Stad Lanmizik will kick off at 8:30 p.m. with local artists performing before Culture takes the stage.  Tickets cost R50.

Mr Payette said that Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) will run its buses take people home after Saturday's concert. Buses will leave the terminal in Victoria at 12:30 a.m.

LINKS