2 months ago
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More than eight years ago, reggae entertainer Nesbeth solidified his position among Jamaican music royalty with a slew of hit songs like My Dream and Success Story.
Fast-forward to 2024, there has been a noticeable reduction in his performance and releases locally. This, he says, is not only by choice but the cycle of life.
“The thing about it is that life continues and there is so much going on at any given moment. The focus is not [always] going to solely be on any one individual. The man who is being heavily focused now, come tomorrow, he won’t get that level of attention, because there are other things in the space that deserve attention,” Nesbeth told The Sunday Gleaner.
“I am not about being just another artiste. I am here to make a footprint; I am a trailblazer,” he continued.
It is against this background that the entertainer has been honoured with several notable accolades in recent times. One he is most fond of is the billboard erected in his honour in Arnett Gardens in St Andrew last year.
“I grew up seeing pictures on the wall of people who were slain... it was always a sad sight. So, I was used to seeing pictures on the wall … but now I live to see come to pass, I am here, living, and being not just on the wall but on a billboard,” he said proudly.
Our conversation with Nesbeth comes ahead of his performance at tonight’s staging of the Garvey One Destiny Concert at the National Arena in Kingston. The event is an inaugural fundraiser for the Marcus Garvey in Schools Foundation (MGISF).
According to the foundation’s chairman, Effiom Whyte, they are “committed to fostering self-awareness, promoting financial literacy and inspiring a new generation of leaders”.
Nesbeth says this vision and mission for the event lines up with his own set of beliefs and morals.
“I think the show is in line for whatever Nesbeth stands for. If you understand Marcus Garvey and what he stood for, which is self-development, then you will move forward with the development of the nation,” he said.
“So, if there is [a] need and they see a way to get it into the schools, then more and more youths will not only know of the name Marcus Garvey but will be able to read who he was and what he stood for,” he continued.
The entertainer has not performed in Jamaica for almost a year now, and is promising his fans “nothing but the best”.
“I will be there in full flight, and I plan to give my all, especially for a show that I think is in line with my values. I plan on giving the youths the baton like it is a relay race, and this show provides an excellent platform to do that,” Nesbeth said.
He is set to perform alongside an all-star line-up which includes the likes of Beenie Man, Sizzla, Queen Ifrica, Jahshii, and Lutan Fyah.
English (US) ·