Glen Washington is back in Kenya. The Jamaican reggae songwriter and drummer arrived earlier this month and is set to perform during the Mashujaa weekend both in Nairobi and Nakuru.
The Kindness For Weakness singer will headline the upcoming Pubs, Entertainment and Restaurants Association of Kenya (PERAK) Pamoja Festival in Nakuru City.
The much-anticipated festival will be held at the Nakuru Athletics Club on Mashujaa Day, Sunday, October 20, 2024.
PERAK has organized the festival to celebrate its 20th anniversary since its inception, promising an epic event.
Speaking at a press conference, Washington revealed that his band will also be jetting into the country next week ahead of the two shows which have been scheduled and promised a massive show.
“The Pamoja PERAK Festival in Nakuru will be massive for me as I am also excited to perform there. The love that I have received so far is amazing,” he said.
On his part, PERAK National Chairman Michael Muthami said that they organised the event to mark our 20th-anniversary celebrations since its inception.
“We saw the best way to celebrate this great milestone is to go the cities outside the capital and give our members a platform to display what they have in the hospitality industry,” said Muthami.
He added that the concert would be a perfect opportunity for members of the hospitality industry to network globally.
“This will provide an opportunity for our members in the hospitality industry, an opportunity to network across the country and globally to improve their business,” he said.
Washington is also expected to perform during this year’s Africa Bound Reggae Fest 2024, which will take place on October 19 at the KICC.
The 67-year-old singer at the same time shared some interesting facts about his life, among them overcoming challenges with marijuana and achieving sobriety.
“I used the substance a long time ago, but I stopped because I realized it was unnecessary. It was a matter of mind over matter, and one day I decided I didn’t need this anymore. At some point, I couldn’t get on stage without a spliff,” he said.
“When it was illegal I loved to smoke it but once it was legalised I hated it.”
He also shared how many people doubted he could succeed without using a “hit,” but he confirmed that he has been clean and sober for several years now.
The Jamaican artiste who has been in the country for more than two weeks added that Kenya feels like home having acclimatised himself to the climate and society.
“This is not my first time in the country, for the tour, I wanted to come in early and also relax and see around. When I last performed in Kisumu, I was named Ochieng so this feels like home,” he said.
