Ras Emmanuel returns from successful West African tour

Award-winning New Jersey-based reggae DJ Ras Emmanuel is back stateside after completing a successful tour of Gambia, West Africa, where he performed as part of the Reggae Month celebrations for 2025.

“The trip was fantastic and was very productive,” Emmanuel told Caribbean Life on Monday after his third tour of Gambia. “I was received with great honor and respect.

“When I arrived at the airport I was treated royally,” he added. “I was booked for two shows but ended up performing at three events.

“Customs granted me a five years visa to come and go as I like to, and I got to meet a promoter who has expressed a keen interest in having me return to Gambia for even bigger events,” continued Emmanuel, stating that he also conducted several radio and TV interviews in promoting his shows there.

“These media opportunities on radio and TV were made available for me through the promoter,” he said. “Thanks to Muta from Q Radio and Father Willy’s Sports Bar for what they did. Thanks also to GTS and Deblanka for having me on Angola TV station.”

Emmanuel said his trip to the Mother Land was propelled by the success of his new single, “Dancehall Forever.”

He said the song has garnered not just strong radio play and street momentum in the Diaspora, but it has become a favorite among radio listeners in Africa and on IRIE FM in Jamaica.

Ras Emmanuel has a long history in the music industry, being a five-time winner of the Reggae DJ of the Year for New Jersey.

“I am very proud to have won the Reggae DJ of the Year in New Jersey five times,” he said. “I feel joyful and very honored to be the recipient of this prestigious award.”

Ras Emmanuel said he is booked to perform at the Mystery Dance on Saturday, June 14 at The Compound in Queens, with Sister Nancy and her brother Brigadier Jerry, Sister Carol, Round Head and Anthony Malvo.

“My upcoming performance with the great brigadier and his sister, the Hon. Muma Nancy, will be epic,” he said. “What more can I ask for? This will be historic for me.

“When I look at the lineup, I’m the youngest of all the confirmed acts,” he added. “I am just so happy to be performing with the greats.”

Asked if he had a message for African Americans and Caribbean nationals in the Diaspora, who are yet to visit the Mother Land, Ras Emmanuel said: “Stop contemplating. Pick yourself up and just go.

“This is the right time to go to Africa, especially with what is going on here in the USA right now,” he said. “Africans are saying we are the builders. We are the creators. I was told this every time I visited the Mother Land.”