by Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Joseph 'Culture' Hill at Reggae Sunsplash 2006. - Ian Allen

The official celebrations for the life of singer Joseph 'Culture' Hill, who died on August 19 in Berlin, Germany, will take place next weekend.

Plans for 'A Night of Strictly Culture', a free concert at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, and 'The Celebratory Church Service' at the Emmanuel Apostolic Church on Slipe Road, Kingston, were outlined yesterday afternoon at the Kabana Restaurant, Hope Road,St. Andrew.

Before the details of the memorial celebration Dennis Wright, chairman of the brief function as well as the Joseph 'Culture' Hill Planning Committee which is helping to organise the celebratory weekend, described the living Culture as "a family man, a great ambassador".

"Joseph Hill has taken our culture and our music to every corner of the world," he said.

And on Friday, September 8, for six hours over three decades of the music of the group he was synonymous with in name, voice and stage presence will come to the Ranny Williams Centre, as a number of performers will deliver his songs at 'A Night of Strictly Culture', which runs from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. The following day those who wish to take a last look at him will be able to do so from 9:00 a.m. at Emmanuel Apostolic, 12 Slipe Road, Kingston, before the official 'Celebratory Church Service' begins at noon.

After that it is off to Dovecot in St. Catherine, where Hill will be buried.

Andrea Davis, member of the planning committee, said Pam Hall, Luciano, Dean Fraser, Bob Andy and Sizzla have already been confirmed for the concert, with many others to come.

"We feel that that Friday night will be a very important night that will capture the life of Culture" We aim to make Friday night at Ranny Williams an extremely special one. It will reflect the life of Joseph Hill," Junior Lincoln, another member of the committee said.

About the decision to bury Hill at Dovecot and not in the hills of rural St. Andrew where he lived, his daughter Afreen Hill-Walker said "it would have been unfair to put him away where the rest of the world would not have access to him". We have to put him in a place where it will be for the greater good".

However, she said "we have got permission to put a monument of sorts there so people can pay their respects".