Roots chanter Derajah is looking forward to a productive 2026, after releasing a collaboration and performing at the Wicki Wacki Festival in Bull Bay in February.
He released Burning, the follow-up to Love Up, a roots ballad he recorded with MG Liz, a singer from St Catherine he has mentored for the past year. The Rastafarian artiste co-produced that song with Bruno Dupre of Brazil. While recording and releasing songs is important, Derajah said securing live shows is just as critical. Performing before a packed house at the Wicki Wacki Festival was good exposure.
“The festival is very important to me because it is owned and operated by young people, youth who are passionate about preserving reggae music and ensuring that it continues to thrive,” he said. “Most of the time I was in the spirit, so I can’t say much, but performing my songs for the public is always a good vibration.”
A recording artiste for almost 30 years, Derajah is best known in Europe and South America for roots songs such as Who Yeah Yah, which was produced by guitarist Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith in 2002.
In 2025, he released several songs including Red, Chant and Justice, as well as Where is Our Culture, a collaboration with Cedric Myton and Wormbass.
