In the first week of December, I had the pleasure of accompanying Protoje & The Indiggnation to Dubai for a 3 day Festival - SoleDXB. I learned that this was a yearly festival in which they focus on different cultural aspects each yearly staging. This year’s culture in focus was Jamaica. Many other Jamaicans and Jamaican representatives were in attendance, and to me it seemed pretty significant to have such an authentic representation of Jamaican culture in Dubai all at once, I decided I would try to document our presence in my own unique way.

December 5 to 7 - SoleDXB, Dubai
featuring: Lee Scratch Perry, Gabre Selassie, The NoMaddz, Royal Blu, DJ Stamma, Koffee, Sevana, Lila Ike & Protoje

Photos, and words by Yannick Reid (@TheTherapistSOL)

Opening Party featuring Lee Scratch Perry

The Festival had a pre-party before officially starting the next day, hosted in their pop up “Jamaican venue” Nyam and Scram, made to emulate a Jamaican dance, equipped with a Jamaican restaurant, line with mesh- and an authentic custom built sound system, shipped from Jamaica. I ventured out to catch Lee Scratch Perry on stage burning fruit.

The Festival Setup

Arriving on the actual first day of the festival I can say I was nothing short of impressed by the setup. Going in, I had no idea what to expect from this festival and I was blown away by the layout. The arrangement was almost emulating streets, where stalls were lined off like actual stores, the ground itself was a cool grey concrete, which complemented so many of the vibrant poppy colours all over the festival. There were many installations around the grounds, perfect for aesthetically pleasing instagram posts, each spot looking more inviting than the next. There was quite a roster of streetwear and luxury brands represented at the festival, which reflected an understanding of the target demographic of the festival, which comprised of a diverse group of people, all very in tune with high fashion and uniqueness as everyone was decked out in something outstanding.

Dub Club in Dubai

In the same section of the festival where the opening party kept, I came upon Gabre Selassie, the pioneer can captain of Kingston Dub Club from Jamaica, in Dubai replicating the authentic Roots reggae vibes in the heart of the festival. Eventually accompanied by The NoMaddz.

I’d love to make a special mention to some of the food I had from Nyam & Scram, pictured below is the ‘Curry Ital Boat’, one of the dishes playing on the term ‘running a boat’, served in paper boat plates. This was utterly delicious, a flavour profile definitely true to Jamaican form. It was a dish with carrot, brown beans, Cauliflower, in a coconut curry sauce, served with white rice and avocado, delicious!

Royal Blu & DJ Stamma

Two friends of mine; Royal Blu & DJ Stamma, also participated in the festival, Stamma bringing is own DJ set, and Royal Blu performing his original songs. above, I captured Royal Blu in front of the custom made soundboxes made by “uncle ronnie” that were shipped to Dubai for the festival.

Koffee

Night one’s headliner, was the Jamaican with undoubtedly the biggest year in Music - Koffee. Fresh off releasing her new single “W” performed all her popular hits like “Raggamuffin”, “Throne” & “Toast”.
& for her encore, performed Burna Boy’s hit song “Ye” in his unfortunate absence

After her performance, I managed to grab an exclusive portrait set of Koffee- as well as her team.

Tami Chang

Carleene Samuels

ABBIGAL ROWE

After Party (No Nonsense Fridays)

After the closing of the festival was the after party for day one, A dancehall party inside Nyam & Scram, featuring Max Glazer from Federation Sound, Creep from Chromatic Live, & DJ Shortkutt. An intense vibe that ended up with me on the microphone during Creep’s set somehow, but this article isn’t about me lol.

Max Glazer of Federation Sound

Creep Chromatic of Chromatic

Rila, Photographer

FESTIVAL DAY 2

PUMA STAGE - SEVANA & LILA IKE

After a recent partnership with Puma resulting a photoshoot in Jamaica, Indiggnation Collective’s two artistes Sevana & Lila Ike, performed with the Indiggnation (band) on the Puma Stage on Day 2 of SoleDXB performing their combined wide catalog of songs. Recent selections like Sevana’s “Nobody Man” & Lila’s “Where I’m Coming From”. They also performed each of their songs off the freshly released “Rock & Groove” project - “Haul & Pull” and “Sweet Inspiration” respectively

MAIN STAGE - PROTOJE & THE INDIGGNATION presented by FRED PERRY

The final Jamaican element of the weekend was Protoje & The Indiggnation on the Main stage, performing an extremely high energy set - featuring only hits from his catalog, Recent songs like “Blood Money” & “Not Another Word” featuring Lila Ike, just shortly before bringing a sheet of rain down of the festival.. a shower of blessings if you will.

In closing, what I think is very important to say beyond just the intrigue and excitement, is many people come to Jamaica to use Jamaica as a launching pad, because we are so rich with culture, it often feels like outsiders come and use us and then exclude us. My favorite thing about my time spent at Sole DXB, is feeling like there was true representation of Jamaica, by Jamaicans. Even if it is their festival, I saw where the effort was made that Jamaicans were apart of it. -Not just performing acts, but scholars, Photographers, DJs, minds in the industry. It made me very hopeful, that it is really possible for collaboration to be successful as opposed to exploitation, it made me hopeful that maybe one day, we will be able to have some say in how our culture and heritage is exported on the world stage, and in that future, we are also on the sarges around the world to see it.

Great festival, Thanks to the SoleDXB team, and Dubai for your hospitality

Sole DXB: An Island Affair in Dubai