Canadian hooked on reggae, Jamaica for 30 years
Canadian Ed Sweet, 52, is making his 30th trip to Jamaica. However, his love affair with the Caribbean island is not influenced by the sun, sea, and sand that visitors normally crave. Instead, he says he is drawn to the island because of the pulsating beat of reggae music.
“I have been to Jamaica over 30 times for Reggae Sumfest and Rebel Salute in particular,” Sweet told WESTERN STAR last Saturday during night two of the music festival. “I fell in love with reggae music since I heard Bob Marley for the first time at the age of 15.
“Versions of reggae music are offered all over the world, but if you want to experience the real authentic sound, you will have to be where it all started, and that is why I have made Jamaica my home away from home ever since.”
Sweet met in an accident in his homeland 15 years ago, and that caused him to be wheelchair-bound ever since. But that has not prevented him from following his passion.
“Before I hurt myself in the accident, I had attended Reggae Sumfest about 10 times, walking, so I was not going to let a wheelchair stop me from being here each year.”
The Ottawa citizen said that he has an appreciation for dancehall music and chose Tommy Lee Sparta as the best performer on the previous night but admitted that the mouth-watering line-up for night two, including Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley, Beres Hammond, Maxi Priest, Cham, Capleton, Raging Fyah, and Jesse Royal was a treat worth travelling miles to see.
Having feasted on the weeklong celebrations, Sweet said that he is heading home satisfied with another awesome experience, but admittedly, he is also on the hunt for a Jamaican wife, an achievement he says would be the icing on the cake.