Cultural Vibes

Cultural Vibes is a weekly (Fridays 11pm-4am) Reggae radio program broadcast on a community station Radio FM+ based in the South of France (Montpellier, Nimes, Ales) and on www.culturalvibes.net

History

Cultural Vibes was formed in 1999 by the meeting of David - Selecta Daweed - a Reggae vinyl fanatic and Ron who had just returned from a long journey in Africa. They began to broadcast on Radio FM+, a community station based in Montpellier (Southern France), with Jean-Yves 'Le Crabe' who invited them onto his program called 'Les Antennes du Crabe'. A few months later the director of radio FM+ - Pierre Zentz - gave Daweed & Ron their own weekly hours on the radio station - starting on the 11th May 2000, a tribute to Bob Marley - a non-stop 5 hour Reggae music program. Cultural Vibes quickly became the meeting point for the local sound systems - Wass'Muffin, Kadjah, Reality, Art n' Spirit and Youth & Kulcha with Doud and Layah who took part in the selection and animation. Later on, Ron & Daweed met up with Sharkou - a fan of Reggae and media, and went onto become the webmaster for Cultural Vibes and who created the website in 2002.

The same year Ron came over to live in London to link up with many more artists, producers and promoters - all people involved in reggae music. Sista Ieiazel - an artist & photographer rejoined Ron in London and started to photograph cultural events as well as live events. On Ron's arrival in London he met up again with Stamina Li, well known in Montpellier as a member of the Wass'Muffin Sound. Together they have started a project called 'Cultural Vibes & Wass'Muffin Sound - Togeda Inna Di Gideon', by the production of a double CD mix - 'Word, Sound & Power - Reggae Get Stronga featuring Junior Reid, Luciano & up-coming artists - Live & Direct.

At this time Ron, Stamina Li and Sister Ieiazel met up with the Roots Studio crew and began to play in monthly sessions at the venues organized by Roots Studio promoting Jah music. During the summer of 2003, Selecta Daweed came over from Montpellier to play at Roots Studio with Ron & Stamina Li and will join in with Cultural Vibes at Roots Studio when time and space allows.

At this present time Cultural Vibes & Wass'Muffin Sound play at Roots Studio on a monthly basis and help to organize showcases at Roots Studio with artists such as Mystic Messenjah, Action Fire, Ramon Judah, Sparky & Superflex. Cultural Vibes look forward to helping promote many new ventures.

Program & Purpose

Cultural Diary - to develop a quality program showing Roots & Culture in their many aspects, especially Reggae music and the message of Rastafari.

Interviews & Speculates - to promote music and the people who record it, play it and diffuse it by presenting special programs with interviews and live & direct musical sessions.

Reasoning Time - to bring together social actors, non-profit organizations, associations who give reflections about nature, society and Rastafari.

African Connection (Music from Africa) - to link up internationally with other radio stations (especially in Africa) to diffuse the music and promote African artists where they need more exposure.

Previous Meetings & interviews

some archives can be found on www.culturalvibes.net

U Brown
Trinity
Ranking Joe
Big Red
Omar Pene
VIB
U-Roy
Rod Taylor
Anthony B
Kymani Marley
Foo Panick
Rasites
Bob Wasa
Ras Nestar
Gladiators
Israel Vibration Buju Banton
Aba-Shanti-I
Don Carlos
Coco Tea
Yaniss Odua
Racine Reggae
Francois
Savannah
G Klop
Junior Kelly
Chrisinti
Iley Dread
Gospel Fish
Danny Ray
Capleton
Moses I
Military Man
Kulcha Knox
Action Fire
Luciano
Ismael Lo
Bushman
Daniel Ray
Moodie
Daddy Mory
Sael
Apache
Aisha
Earl 16
Lutan Fayah
Abidjah
Baby G
Mystic Messenjah
Sparky & Supaflex
Pete Holdsworth
Horace Andy
Original Uman
Tiken Jah Fakoly
Stranger Jah Cole
Anthony Johnson
Gregory Issacs
Mighty Diamonds
Everton Blender
George Nooks
Empress Ayeola
Bingui Jaa Jammy
Barrington Levy
Jah Thunder
Jah Marcus
Mystic Revelation of Rastafari

Cultural Vibes Around the World

1998 - Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) with Sam's K le Jah Bobo Dioulasso on Radio Energie
2000 - Dakar (Senegal) on Royal Vibes with Peter King
2000 - Nantes, Toulouse, Lorient (France)
2003 - Reunion Island (Indian Ocean) on a Reggae Session with 97 Kat Sound on radio Arc-en-Ciel and on Kreole FM
2003 - London on Roots Awakening with Steve Bedlam (Negust Nagast Sound)
2006 - JA Sound festival in Bagnols South France with Stamina Li - Togeda inna Gideon

More Music, More Life, More Love!!

This project, so impressive in its proportions, its complexity and its ramifications, reflects in common with all other undertakings designed for the promotion of progress and welfare of mankind. The fruition of intelligence, faith and diligence, intelligence to penetrate and discern the hidden resources and opportunities that a benevolent providence has spread before us. In challenge to prove ourselves worthy of them means for bringing them to full development, faith in the ability of our people to respond to that challenge, faith to penetrate through the fatigues and difficulties of the hour to the vision of their future welfare and progress which these resources, the opportunities and these labours offer, and diligence to pursue through hardship and fatigues the attainment of that vision.

Speech by His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie I, Jah Rastafari - May 1960

i n i Give Thanks Itinually.