Award-winning Jamaican reggae sensation Richie Spice is in Kenya for a line of concerts at the Good Vibes Festival in Nairobi and Kisumu cities. Spice, a reggae maestro with a huge fan base in Kenya will perform at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Saturday, May 27. He will then visit the popular Lakeside city of Kisumu on May 28 for a separate concert. Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o invited the Jamaican act to entertain another set of fans in their home.
Royal Media Services (RMS) organized the concert. In an interview earlier in the week with RMS-owned radio and TV stations, Richie Spice spoke of his love for Kenya. He will be performing in Nairobi for the fourth time and he feels great about it after his last concert in 2019.
Why Richie Spice is in Kenya
The ‘Brown Skin’ hitmaker said Kenya is his second home because it has a lot of resemblance with Jamaica. His home memories are always alive whenever he is with his fans in this East African country. With his unhidden love for Kenya, Spice has also performed in Senegal and The Gambia but Nairobi stays close to his heart.
Richie Spice will be performing at the Good Vibes Festival in Nairobi, Kenya. He will also tour the lakeside city of Kisumu before entertaining his fans there. Photo/Citizen TV
Regular advance tickets cost Ksh. 2,500 ($18) while VIP and VVIP tickets cost Ksh. 5,000 ($36) and Ksh. 7,000 ($51) respectively. Gate tickets will cost Ksh. 3,000 ($22) for regular admission, Ksh. 7,000 ($51) for VIP admission, and Ksh. 9,000 ($65) for VVIP admission. While Richie Spice is in Kenya, he will also have an extensive tour of Kisumu City courtesy of Nyong’o’s administration. There are several planned events to help the city highlight the best aspects of its culture and what it offers in terms of tourism.
One of the cultural intrigues he will experience are boat tours on Lake Victoria and a delicious meal of freshly-caught fish and the popular brown ugali accompanied by traditional veggies. The Jamaican Reggae maestro will meet the Kisumu Governor and his cabinet, and then proceed to the Imperial Sarova Hotel. He will then perform at Mambo Leo’s Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium.
How Old is Richie Spice?
Richie Spice is in Kenya currently and is 52 years old. He was born on September 8, 1971, at Rock Hall, St Andrew in Jamaica. His real name is Richell Bonner and he became a global reggae sensation in the 90s. Although Richie Spice didn’t perform in Kenya then, he graced important concerts such as Reggae Sunsplash, White River Reggae Bash, and Rebel Salute.
Further, the 90s booked him an extensive music tour to Europe. He performed in the US and Europe in 1996 and 1997 together with Chaka Demus, Bob Marley’s widow Rita Marley, and Pliers. His three albums; In The Streets to Africa, Gideon Boot, and Book of Job all released between 2006 and 2011 ranked among the top global reggae albums. Performing at the Good Vibes Festival in Kenya, expect Richie Spice to play some of his popular hits like Brown Skin Girl, Gideon Boot, and Groovin My Girl, among others.
Where is Richie Spice From?
Jamaican reggae artist Richie Spice. Photo/Boomplay
Although Richie Spice is in Kenya, he hails from St Andrew in Jamaica. His two brothers Pliers and Spanner Banner are also reggae artists. Pliers found his musical footing with Chaka Demus where they did amazing music as a duet. The 52-year-old reggae artist started his musical career when he was young and began appearing in local talent shows and events. Reggae icons like Joseph Hill of Culture, Peter Tosh, and Bob Marley had a big impact on him. They inspired him to do reggae music and years later, he became a global phenomenon in the Jamaican reggae industry.
Besides his Europe, and North American tours in the ’90s; Spice recorded and released his music in the early 1990s. His deep, conscientious kind of reggae caught people’s attention and connected with them. In 2004, he made a breakthrough with the release of his album “Spice in Your Life,” which featured the number-one single “Earth A Run Red.”
This album made him a popular reggae artist. Over the years, He has gained recognition for his soft vocals and sentimental lyrics. His music frequently relates to social issues, spirituality, and love.
