MUMBAI: After completing a fantastic fourth edition over 12-13 January which was attended by over 2200 people of 40 different nationalities Goa Sunsplash has announced dates for its 2020 edition. To be held over January 10, 11 and 12 next year, India’s largest celebration of reggae music and culture, Goa Sunsplash will now be a three-day festival in its fifth edition.

"Even though Goa Sunsplash has been a two-day festival for the last few editions, in reality the festivities seem to last for over a week,” says Zorawar Shukla aka General Zooz of Reggae Rajahs, founder of Goa Sunsplash. “Artists and fans alike gather in Goa from all parts of India and the world in the days preceding the festival, itching to get the celebrations under way.  So, we thought that the time was right to include a third day of programming as part of the official festival dates for the next edition. It was a very easy decision to make,” he adds.

The 2019 edition at Riva Beach Resort featured world renowned beatboxer Dub FX, Notting Hill Carnival legends Channel One Soundsystem, Jamaican reggae superstar Anthony B, London reggae veteran Earl Gateshead, India’s DJ Sa, Bombay Bassment, BFR Soundystem and reggae talent from all corners of the world and India.

It’s wasn’t just music that people came to Goa Sunsplash for. The emphasis for Goa Sunsplash as a festival is to offer a holistic lifestyle and cultural experience that reflects the reggae ethos, and it was successful in creating experiences that could be enjoyed by all age-groups.

There were dance music workshops led by Jamaican dancer Craig Black Eagle that attracted a lot of teenagers, yoga dub sessions with Jahnavi Sheriff, talks on sound system culture led by Diggy Dang of the Reggae Rajahs and featuring Channel One Sound System, Earl Gateshead, Kibir La Amlak and Delhi Sultanate. Another highlight of the festival were discussions with Donisha Prendergast, granddaughter of legendary Bob Marley, who spoke with Anthony B, Channel One Soundsystem, Delhi Sultanate and others at length about Indian influences on Rastafarianism and, Jamaica to the World.