The gods choose to intervene in the affairs of men when they will and in controversial radio personality, Blakk Rasta’s case they intervened in a most unusual way.

For eight years, the ‘Salaga Soldier’ run riot dominating his competitors and cultivating hard core followers with his fierce talk, witty comments, stellar reggae music play, historical lectures and music from his personal vault.

But radio being his day job meant his other gifts suffered or did not get full attention till he resigned from Hitz FM and bringing an end to his Taxi Driver show on the station after he was dragged before the Privileges Committee of Parliament for claiming that about 80 percent of Members of Parliament (MPs) smoke marijuana. A claim he subsequently apologized for and retracted.

Since leaving radio, Blakk has been a guest of Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, playing to hundreds of music lovers with his Herbalist Band. He’s lectured at the University of Central Missouri and other universities including the University of Kansas.

Blakk Rasta also toured the United Kingdom shining light on his 13 track ‘Kuchoko Revolution’ album at BBC TV and radio stations including Starr Radio, Galaxy Radio, Ahodwo FM and Fire Live Radio.

And in some more good news for the man making a return to radio in a few days on Zylofon 102.1 FM, Blakk Rasta has earned an invite to the Ivory Coast’s biggest arts and entertainment festival.

International Artistic Committee (Cai) of the Arts Market and the African show (Masa) settled on 65 artistic groups and selected artists for the Masa 2018 edition made public at a September 30, 2017 unveiling.

In its 10th edition, the cultural spectacle is to be held from March 10 -17, 2018 in Abidjan.

At the end of their work, the Cai evaluated 677 applications from 5 continents, 20 groups in music, 8 in dance, 8 in theaters, 8 in tales, 10 in humor, 8 in street arts and 3 in slam.

President of Cai, Mrs. Korkor Armateifio of Ghana thanked Masa general management for the welcome given to the members of the Committee.

According to Koné Dodo, a member of Cai, the selection criteria for the invitees was based on originality, musicality, the stage presence and the diversity of the different creations.

The 2018 edition’s theme is: “What Economic Models for the Performing Arts? Troops, concert halls and festivals.”

Below is the list of companies and artistic groups selected at MASA 2018:

Music (20)

Blakk Rasta, Ghana

10 Volts Benin, Benin

David Tayoro, Ivory Coast

Orent’tchy and Boomboom, Ivory Coast

Women swingers, Ivory Coast

Yakomin, Ivory Coast

Soul Bang’s, Guinea Conakry

Cheickne Soumane 5tamans, Mali

P-Pentatonic, Mali

Seun Olota, Nigeria,

Ibaaku, Senegal,

Armand Biyag, Cameroon

Lornoar, Cameroon

Nainako, Madagascar

Badredine Dridi, Tunisia

Baco and Urban Plant, France

Ezza Group, France

Artiz, Haiti

Brown Rice Family, Usa

Maria de Barros, Usa / Cape Verde

by: michael eli dokosi/www.blakkpepper.com/ghana