The Miramar Cultural Heart pulsed with emotion, rhythm, and cultural pleasure this previous weekend because the twelfth annual Rhythms of Africa: Music to My Ears live performance performed to 2 sold-out audiences, delivering a soul-stirring mix of efficiency and goal.
From the electrifying sounds of Nigerian violinist Demola to the inspiring showcase by Somerset Academy Central Miramar college students, the occasion was a tribute to the transformative energy of music. However it was reggae legend Ken Boothe who stole the highlight, receiving the Keys to the Metropolis from Mayor Wayne Messam and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Island SPACE Caribbean Museum.
“This night was greater than a live performance—it was a heartfelt celebration of resilience, unity, and cultural pleasure,” mentioned Mayor Messam. “Miramar is proud to be a metropolis the place range is widely known, and the humanities wholeheartedly embraced.”
Boothe, visibly moved and dealing with bodily challenges, carried out to a rapt viewers that responded with thunderous applause and a standing ovation. His legacy, cemented over many years of genre-defining music, resonated deeply with followers, younger and previous.
Earlier within the night, Demola delivered a magnetic efficiency, mixing Afrobeat vitality with classical violin mastery. His set set the tone for an evening the place the rhythms of Africa met the spirit of the Caribbean in spectacular concord.
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The center of this system, nevertheless, got here from the subsequent era. Below the route of grasp drummer and Embrace Music Basis founder Willie Stewart, Somerset Academy college students showcased the fruits of 30 hours of musical coaching. “Folks get to see the worth artwork and music deliver to the training expertise of our younger folks,” mentioned Stewart, promising a return in 2026.
The lineup additionally featured performances from Jiggy Jack and Jacky Ambroise, previously of Strings, holding the gang energized all through the evening.
With the occasion’s rising recognition, organizers have already introduced subsequent yr’s dates—April 18 and 19, 2026—promising one other unforgettable weekend that celebrates tradition, youth, and group.
