Jamaica’s Jah Cure expected to set Tourism Night alight

Glamis Arena on October 8 in what is likely to be a massive night for reggae lovers.
The Tourism Night makes a comeback after Zimbabwe Tourism Authority failed to hold it last year due to some challenges. The authority has decided to make up for disappointing Zimbabweans last year by bringing in the currently most sought-after reggae musician in Jamaica.

ZTA chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke yesterday confirmed that they are negotiating with Jah Cure and is adamant that the “Longing For” hitmaker will touch base under the authority’s Celebrity Host programme that saw them bringing in Joe Thomas and Luciano.
“We are currently negotiating with him but are going to make sure he comes. We choose these artistes dependent on what impact he or she has in their country of origin as this makes them opinion makers which in turn help with our perception management programme,” said Mr Kaseke.

Jah Cure is said to have started by asking for US$40 000 in performance fees before dropping to US$30 000 but ZTA are keen on bringing the figure further down as they say they had set a budget of US$20 000 to bring the artiste and his band.

“I have told you these figures because you journalists have a tendency to write falsehoods about our Celebrity Host programme like when you wrote that we paid Joe Thomas some ridiculous amount when in actual fact we paid him US$23 000,” said Mr Kaseke.

In an exclusive interview recently on BBC Radio 1 Extra with Robbo Ranx, Jah Cure confirmed that he will be heading to Zimbabwe for a performance.
Jah Cure or Iyah Cure was born on October 11 1978 in Hanover, Jamaica, but was raised in Kingston. He was given the name Jah Cure by Capleton whom he met while growing up in Kingston. His first big break came in March 1997 when he released the single “King in this Jungle” which was a duet with Sizzla. The single was produced by Beres Hammond who went on to become his mentor.

He then released a steady stream of singles that won him critical and popular acclaim.
In November 1998, while driving around Montego Bay, Cure was pulled over by the police and arrested on charges of gun possession, robbery and rape. He was prosecuted before the Gun Court in

April 1999, found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison but was released in 2007. Since the arrest, Cure has firmly maintained his innocence.
While in prison he had access to recording equipment and released three albums and a number of singles, some of which have topped the Jamaican charts. His first album “Free Jah’s Cure The Album the Truth” was released in 2000, it was followed by Ghetto Life in 2003 and Freedom Blues in 2005. More recently Cure has released the songs ‘Love Is”, “Longing For” and “True Reflections”, showing his unique voice and lyrical ability.

He was released from jail on parole on July 28 2007, after serving eight years of the sentence. Three days later, his fourth album, “True Reflections . . . A New Beginning”, was released.
He is now signed to SoBe Entertainment/Danger Zone Music Group. In 2008, Jah Cure released “Hot Long Time” featuring Junior Reid. “Universal Cure”, Jah Cure’s new album, was released in “mid-2009”.

The album features “Hot Long Time” (featuring Junior Reid, Flo Rida and Mavado) as well as “Mr Jailer” and “Journey”. The album is the first recorded since his release from prison. At the end of 2010, following the success of Jah Cure’s single “Unconditional Love” featuring Phyllisia.,SoBe Entertainment released the second single off Jah Cure’s new album “World Cry” album, titled “Like I See It” featuring Rick Ross and Mavado.