By Byron Mutingwende
Jamican reggae and dancehall superstar Tarrus Riley is a humble man despite his worldwide fame.
The superstar told journalists at a press conference in Harare ahead of his show on Saturday that his upbringing has made him to be the humble man that he is today despite being known as a global powerhouse in the reggae/dancehall world.
Riley grew up in the United States of America but always travelled to Jamaica where he mingled with people of humble backgrounds. The musician, who was flanked by Jamaican saxophonist Dean Fraser and a member of the Blak Soil Band endeared himself to the local journalists as he freely mingled and allowed them to take photos with him.
“The musician is very humble. He is very famous but he does not allow the fme to get into his head. It’s totally different from the heavy security we witnessed during Akon’s visit to Zimbabwe. We expect fireworks on Saturday. For his international stature, the entry tickets are affordable at only $20 for early birds,” said one of the journalists.
Zimdancehall sensation DJ Godfather Templeman described Riley as a singer whose music blends well with all age groups and seeks to unify people.
“Tarrus has made it clear that he does not condone hatred among artists. He said musicians should engage in healthy competition in order to promote the growth of reggae/dancehall without creating animosity. The man’s songs revolve around social issues of love, peace and harmony. Local Zimdancehall artists should do the same as they are the cultural and social repositories,” Templeman said.