Alpha Blondy — Pol’and’Rock Festival, Kostrzyn nad Odrą, 2018

This full concert films Alpha Blondy on the main stage of the Pol’and’Rock Festival 2018, formerly Przystanek Woodstock, in Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Poland. A leading figure of Ivorian reggae since the 1980s, the Abidjan-born singer performs a repertoire sung in French, English, Dioula and Arabic, backed by his band The Solar System. Playing before one of the largest free gatherings in Europe, his set blends horns, guitars and deep basslines carrying the social and spiritual message that defines his work. This live full concert captures the stage energy of an artist who turned reggae into a vehicle for unity and for denouncing injustice. The concert live format conveys the atmosphere of the Polish festival and the connection between the artist and a massive crowd. A reference recording to discover Alpha Blondy in 2018, between Rasta heritage and pan-African commitment, in a European setting that is unusual for this emblematic voice of reggae reinvented from Côte d’Ivoire. A key live document of his touring years.