Shaggy and NY Officials Announce Jamaica Strong Relief Concert
On Tuesday, cultural leaders, lawmakers, and music heavyweights gathered to launch the Jamaica Strong Relief Concert. This is a sprawling effort to help the island’s restoration after Hurricane Melissa. The hurricane brought on almost $9 billion in injury and displaced greater than one million folks.
The occasion, hosted by the Irie Jam Foundation, confirmed how deeply the storm’s aftermath has resonated throughout New York’s Caribbean communities. Shaggy, who will headline the December 12 profit at UBS Arena alongside Sean Paul and different main artists, stated the urgency of the second left little time for the standard long-range planning. Yet, there was no hesitation.
“We are the culture. We are Jamaica,” he stated. “Some of your favorite artists wanted to be here today, but this came together so quickly that a lot of them already had commitments. Even if they can’t stand on the stage that night, they’re supporting this in every way they can. And honestly, Jamaica is the biggest artist on this show. Jamaica is the star we’re all showing up for.”
Organized by the Irie Jam Foundation, Jammins Events, Roadblock Radio, and the Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation, the live performance goals to fund housing help, medical reduction, and long-term rebuilding throughout areas hit hardest by the October 21 storm. The lineup—anticipated to incorporate reggae, dancehall, and crossover acts—displays what organizers known as a “cultural duty” to reply.
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, whose Brooklyn district consists of one of many nation’s largest Jamaican diasporic communities, stated the occasion affords one thing conventional coverage channels typically can’t: immediacy.
“It’s incredibly important that cultural leaders and government leaders work side by side,” Clarke instructed after the convention. “We can take what we hear from our constituencies straight to the State Department. We can push them to meet the moment. Jamaica has always been an ally of the United States, and so many Americans consider it a second home. Seeing the island struggle like this has moved people deeply.”
Clarke stated the devastation in locations like Montego Bay and Negril has solely intensified the necessity for technical and monetary help from the U.S. She added that profit occasions assist preserve nationwide consideration lengthy after the headlines fade. “My hope is that this concert—and others like it—keep galvanizing people to give, to stay engaged, and to stand with the people of Jamaica through the long recovery ahead,” she stated. As organizers repeated all through the afternoon, the message was easy. Rebuilding is a world effort, and New York is decided to steer.
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