The maiden edition of the Kuchoko Roots Festival, lived  up to its billing on Saturday, March 7 when hundreds of authentic reggae music lovers were thrilled to exciting performances from artistes on the bill.

Artistes, including Blakk Rasta, Ras Kimono, Majek Fashek, Hamed Faras, Ras Kuuku and Kwame Bediako, took turns to thrill patrons who thronged the La Pleasure Beach for the concert.

The festival kicked off at 2pm with The Ethiopian World Federation Nyahbingi Warriors chanting and beating big drums to the delight of the patrons.

Artiste after artiste, the huge crowd danced to the good music, energetic performances and chants from Felix Jahno, Osagyefo, Ras Kuuku, Rymzo, Papa Wastik and Hamed Faras, who brought the house alive with his Franco-Mandingo reggae rhythms.

Ras Kimono mounted the stage by 10pm, and just as expected, he rocked the whole house with his energetic performances. His 1988 ‘Under Pressure’ hit song was evergreen when he dropped it and caused the whole festival grounds to "shake" with energy.

The man of the night, Blakk Rasta was carried on to the stage by overly 'irie' reggae fans.

The ‘Barack Obama’ hit singer allowed the teeming crowd to decide for him what songs they wanted to hear and he delivered as they wished.

Fans sang along to several of his hit songs, including Iyawata. Some of the fans were so incensed by the Salaga Soldier's performance that a few of them tried to climb the 8 foot stage.

When Zantan Bua, the goat dance was released finally, the crowd went haywire with a few fans defying security and climbing the huge stage to dance. The energy at the venue was taken a notch higher when Ras Kimono joined Blakk Rasta on stage to perform together.

Kuchoko is a name coined by Blakk Rasta for African Reggae, which he's ventured into, and it is a blend of Jamaican roots Reggae and African rhythms.

MCs for the festival included Culture B, Countryman Songo and Daddy Bosco.

Ras Kuku in action