Reggae Star Luciano, Stoned, bottled ...had to run

Luciano = Roots + Culture - Bottles

NIGERIA, Port Hacourt (Punch): JAMAICAN reggae icon, Luciano, was on Saturday night pelted with empty water bottles by some youths that attended the closing of the 2011 Rivers State Carnival popularly known as CARNIRIV at the Liberation Stadium. Luciano, whose real name is Jepther McClymont, was invited by the consultant handling this year’s cultural festival as the star artiste to perform at the event. Though the music fans, who streamed to the stadium, had earlier been entertained by some Nigerian artistes that included Ras Kimono, Maleke and I Go Save, a few of them were, however, not comfortable with Luciano’s reggae music. Not ready to listen to the lyrics and rhythm of the Jamaican-born reggae idol, they resorted to throwing empty water bottles at him. Luciano, who was shocked at the hostile attitude of the crowd, asked, "What is happening? You don’t want me? I was told that CARNIRIV is an event to showcase African Culture and that is why I am here for you. "I am a messenger of God; don’t you want the message. I was in Ethiopia, they (Ethiopians) received me. I was in Gambia, they received me. Why won’t you receive your brother?" The reggae maestro immediately sang his popular track, One way Ticket to Africa, to appease the crowd. But those who appeared not to be in love with the Luciano’s reggae genre of music continued to pelt him with objects. He eventually left the stage after the rendition of another track, Sweep Over My Soul, before the Nigeria twin artistes, P-Square, were welcomed to the stage with an ovation. A fan, Mr. Bright Chimezie, who spoke with THE PUNCH on the development, decried the action of the crowd, saying, "It is wrong for some people in the crowd to throw empty water bottles at the musician. Luciano is a great musician and he is respected in Jamaica and in other parts of the world. The problem is that our youths are used to musicians that use vulgar language. "This man is not that type of musicians and I feel he should not have been treated that way," Chimezie said. Also speaking with our correspondent in a telephone interview on the matter, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, said it was not in the nature of Port Harcourt people to be hostile to strangers. Describing the people of Rivers as hospitable, Semenitari condemned the attitude of a few music fans at the stadium, adding that throwing objects at visitors was alien to the indigenes of the state. "As a government, we feel that the attitude of some of the fans is not right. Their action is not a true reflection of Rivers people and what they stand for. But what the government can do is to bring the people that will entertain. It cannot take control of the crowd," the commissioner stated.
Luciano is no stranger to these kind of "excitement"... the Reggae star a few years back got some scary moments that should prepare him, at least mentally, for scenarios like these.