Mekka

Gigs at Uppsala Reggae Festival:

Year	Speldag	Speltid	Scen	Gallery
2011	Friday	20:00 - 20:45	Tentstage	Inga bilder

The connection between reggae and Rastafari has always been strong. Therefore, some people are surprised when they hear about Matisyahu's Jewish reggae or Mecca's Muslim reggae. The fact is that there is much more that unites than divides them from other reggae artists. Music is universal regardless of the performer's religion.

Mekka began singing as a child and developed his voice in a Quranic school (Islam has made it into an artform to recite Quranic verses by singing them). When he was in his teens he was introduced to reggae by a friend and was instantly hooked. Danny Dread, a Swedish-jamaican who was a friend of deejaylegends Clint Eastwood and General Saint, saw the kid's potential and took him under his wing. Danny taught Mecca to toast in patois and consecrated him in the reggae world.

Since then Mekka has sung with the old Swedish reggae bands Cool Runnings and Natural Way, and been the opening act for Gregory Isaacs, Freddie McGregor and Anthony B. In 2000, he felt that it was time to stand on its own feet and has since then focused on his solo career. Mekka last appearance at the URF was 2006.

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