Garnet Silk Foundation to give back to late singer’s home parish
MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Students from Manchester will benefit from school supplies and lunch vouchers, with select students receiving aid for CXC examination fees at the upcoming Garnet Silk Legacy Fun Day set for Saturday, April 26, at Brook’s Park , Manchester.
Organisers describe it as more than a charity event, “a commemoration of a life well-lived, one that was steeped in gratitude and therefore impacted countless others throughout the world of Reggae.”
“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 Banton, director of the Garnet Silk Foundation and former spouse of the 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—of the indelible mark he left on music and some of their contemporaries today.”
Garnet Silk was a forerunner of 90s conscious Reggae, among his most notable tracks are “Hello Africa” (Mama Africa); “It’s Growing”,; “Zion in a Vision”; and the emotive tribute to his mother, dubbed “Mama”.
Silk perished in a fire in 1994, along with his mother, Etega Gray. He would have been 59 years old on April 2.
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 an entertainment package.
Fans are encouraged to come out to the free event in their numbers for a day of entertainment and gratitude.