The enthralling energy of Jaka inaugurated the project meetings I chose the South within the third edition of Genius of Palermo, the spring festival organized by the Le Vie dei Tesori Foundation together with the University of Palermo. The Trapani area Giuseppe Giacaloneaka Jaka, one of the most successful reggae singers and musicians in Italy, one of the first to do reggae and rap in Sicilian and Italian in the 1980s, met the students of the “Nicolò Palmeri” scientific high school in Termini Imeresejoined by the students of the “Gregorio Ugdulena” classical high school and the “Stenio” commercial technical institute.
Giuseppe Giacalone, aka Jaka
To the rhythm of reggae, Jaka underlined the importance of getting back into the game in one’s own land, to build and share, taking advantage of the experience acquired elsewhere. As did the singer originally from Marsala, who after living in Florence for a few years, he decided to return to Sicily and now he lives among olive trees and prickly pears, in his villa on the slopes of a hill on the gulf of Castellammare. “My music has returned home, because I love this land madly – said Jaka – for me it was a joy to return to live here and try to enhance the place where I live through my music. If we learn to value this land properly, we can make it a paradise. This is why I am here, to meet school children, because young people are our future.”
The auditorium of the Palmeri scientific high school in Termini Imerese
Jaka’s story is among those of the network I chose the Southproject of Le Vie dei Tesori Foundationsupported by Foundation with the Southwhich brings together the testimonies of those who remained or returned to Sicily to carry out innovative projects.
