MissGaza was one of the 10.000 humans who filled Bayfront Park theatre, in Downtown Miami on Sunday, to witness one of the dopest live Reggae show of the year “Before The Dawn with Buju Banton & Friends.
Reggae Superstar Buju Banton has been granted permission by a US Federal Court to perform at the concert, in a bid to raise funds to cover his legal fees for his upcoming second trial for drug and firearm charges next month and the reggae superstar performed as if his freedom depended on it. One of the best live show of my whole life.
Jamaican star Buju Banton was very elegant, very focused, very kind and he also delivered an incredible two-hour set that left me think how lucky I was to witness it first hand and in a very privileged position.
Several guests went on before him, keeping the crowd busy and happy, even Rick Ross and Busta Bus Rhymes, but it was when Buju took the stage the Amphitheater broke really down in joy, happiness and big big ovations by a loving and emotional crowd!
Buju Banton opened the show with his hit “Destiny” and kept going between his hits from the past and songs of the new album “Before The Dawn”.
As we all did witness he was escorted on stage by several federal agents who stood vigil around the backstage area and made sure that no unauthorized contact was made with the singer.
Buju Banton has been under house arrest since this past December when he was granted bail in a Tampa’s court, just to perform there.
The same officers at twelve o’ clock started being impatient and imposing that the singer quit the show, which was really over few minutes later.
The concert, was dubbed “Before the Dawn, Buju Banton and Friends” and Buju really has the coolest artists friends and they were all there, on stage with him, to hold him down and support him making the show magic and filled with love.
Buju looked beautiful, young, charged, eager to perform and he jumped without a pose all over the stage for more than two hours delivering a perfect show where music, energy and high vibrations were constantly @ their picks and everything was on point and just right!
The crowd was magic too, singing every song, chanting, everybody had a flag, so many kids, so many colors, so many lighters and also some tears.
Buju Banton sang, did combinations with Reggae diva Marcia Griffiths, Wayne Wonder and Steve McKnight, but it was with the entry of Stephen Marley, who had put up his Florida home as collateral for Banton to qualify for bail, and his brother Junior Gong on stage, that brought out a big explosion in the crowd that started clapping, screaming to express all their joy.
Beres Hammond didn’t performed but Banton never missed the opportunity to pay homage to a man he described as one of his mentors. The most spiritual moment was when Gramps Morgan and Buju Banton performed their hit rendition of “Psalms 23.”
Veteran singer Freddie Mc Gregor was on stage too and his song “Freedom” had the crowd singing with him. A very special song giving the particular time Buju is facing.
Other featured appearances included Wayne Wonder, Everton Blender Shaggy and Rayvon, while Sean Paul was joined on stage by Spragga Benz who reminded the audience that “Rasta Run the World”.
Nadine Sutherland & Tarrus Riley were in the house and of course they performed at their best too!
Buju kept thanking his fans for the love and the support for these past months & everybody could tell he really missed being on stage and the contact with his fans.
All the media representatives, who covered the event were more than pissed when they were informed that they would be prohibited to photograph or film footage of more than the first song of each artiste’s performance.
Photographing or filming Banton’s performance was also strictly prohibited. The media was warned that failure to abide by the rule would result in them being thrown out of the venue.The film crews and photographers were into a footage pit and quickly ushered out by stern faced security staff at the start of each performance.
They turned even bitter when members of the audience were seen capturing uninterrupted footage of the event with cellular phones and mini camcorders.