Out Of The Caribbean: SXSW London Showcases Reggae music in all forms

Although Caribbean representation at SXSW London was limited to music, the output was exceptional.

I attended two showcases of Jamaican artists at Unlocked Caribbean Music House: Ghetto Youths International, hosted by BBC 1Xtra’s Seani B, and DEADLY, hosted by DJ Becca Dudley.

Reggae’s Next Generation Proved Their Inheritance at SXSW London

SXSW had the usual parade of industry panels, emerging acts and carefully curated showcases designed to signal where music is heading. One stage quietly delivered something the festival’s programmers may not have fully anticipated: a masterclass in generational talent.

Ghetto Youths International presented artists from three of reggae’s most influential musical families, three surnames that have shaped the global soundtrack of the Jamaican diaspora. One clear message emerged: the bloodline remains strong.

There are moments in music when lineage stops being a footnote and becomes the whole story. SXSW London delivered one of those moments when Christopher Ellis, Mystic Marley and Jemere Morgan — each carrying the weight of an iconic surname — shared a stage and made the case that roots reggae and lovers rock aren’t genres in retreat. They are very much alive, and they are being handed down with intention.

Christopher Ellis, known as “The Singing Wizard“, is the son of “The Godfather of Reggae“, the late Alton Ellis, one of the pioneers of the rocksteady era. Born and raised in London, Christopher is that rare thing: a second-generation artist who has earned the right to stand beside his father’s legacy rather than merely shelter behind it. His vocal warmth carries the same ache his father perfected on tracks such as I’m Still in Love With You, but he brings it somewhere entirely his own. In London, the city that both raised him and shaped his father’s later years, his performance carried a particular emotional charge. As the headline act of the night, he commanded the stage and, although he seemed frustrated at times, ensured the crowd was fully entertained with both his own songs and his father’s classics.

Mystic Marley, daughter of Grammy Award-winning Stephen Marley and granddaughter of the late Bob Marley, is quickly becoming one of the most exciting and innovative artists of her generation. Known for a sultry, grounded presence and a sound that blends reggae, R&B, soul and hip hop, Mystic is not riding the family brand; she’s finding where her own voice lives within it. Her performance was proof that the Marley bloodline produces artists, not just names. I enjoyed her set the most. She was relaxed, radiated good vibes, and definitely left the audience wanting more.

Then there is Jemere Morgan. Born into reggae royalty as the son of Morgan Heritage’s Gramps Morgan, Jemere has now stepped up as lead singer of Morgan Heritage following the passing of his uncle, Peetah Morgan, a transition that is as much a rite of passage as it is a professional appointment. Jemere’s voice is smooth and inviting, like a warm hug. He clearly loves being on stage and engaging with his eager audience. If you were unfamiliar with his solo work before this performance, you likely became a fan instantly.

Together, these three artists embodied something London’s Caribbean community knows instinctively: music endures not through nostalgia, but through blood, belief and the willingness to carry the mission forward. SXSW London may have been the venue, but this felt like church.

Caribbean Music House – Deadly

This was a genre-busting exercise in artistry. Five Jamaican artists, five very distinct entry points into what music from the Caribbean looks like in 2026. We heard roots reggae and dancehall fused with soul, hip hop and pure vibes.

Akina Eman is an emerging artist carving out her place in the Jamaican music scene, and she opened the night with the quiet authority of someone who knows exactly what she’s doing. Her recent singles, co-produced by Romario “Runkus” Bennett and Island.wav, signal an artist deeply embedded in tradition while finding her own emotional register. Live, she held the room immediately with her soft voice and unassuming demeanour.

Zac Jone$ was born to perform. A multi-dimensional artist who started out in Kingston, Jamaica, he describes his sound as reggae with heavy rap influences, part of the current evolution of Jamaican musicians who are blending the modern with the traditional. His set was lively, as expected, and showcased his vocal range while bringing an energy that blurred the lines between what reggae has been and where it’s going. He is a showman who knows how to leave his mark. Performing a mix of original material and familiar covers, he quickly commanded the crowd’s attention, and it worked. I look forward to seeing him live again.

Samory I brought conscious roots weight to the centre of the bill, an artist whose commitment to Rastafarian livity and lyrical rigour positioned him as the spiritual anchor of the evening. His presence was a reminder that the tradition isn’t background noise; it’s the load-bearing wall.

Zion Marley carries the kind of lineage that could define an artist before he’s spoken a word. The son of Ms. Lauryn Hill and Rohan Marley, brother of YG Marley, who has enjoyed significant recent success, and grandson of Bob Marley, he is blending roots reggae with contemporary influences while deepening a message of love, consciousness and authenticity. What came across live was that he isn’t performing legacy; he’s building something genuinely his own, song by song. His growing catalogue, including tracks such as Marching, Premature Paradise and The Door, traces an artist doing that work in public, without apology. There is a strong sense of social consciousness in his performance. He has a message, and we should all give him the opportunity to share it with the world.

Amaria BB closed the night, and she did so at a moment of serious momentum. Her latest single, Break Me Off, is a silky, melodic track that showcases her effortless vocal delivery, and live it sounds just as smooth. The Jamaican-Guyanese R&B and dancehall singer-songwriter from Hackney has been building towards a breakthrough for years, and this felt like one of those moments where everything crystallised. As the headline special guest of the night, she was clearly the artist many of the younger fans had come to see, and the excitement in the room was undeniable as she belted out hit after hit. She left the stage bigger than when she walked onto it.

It was encouraging to see a multi-genre, multi-generational showcase at SXSW London representing the depth of Jamaican talent and demonstrating just how far Caribbean music continues to reach. The intimate venue may have underestimated the scale of the talent on display. Every artist deserved a bigger spotlight. The talent is undeniable, and their future success feels inevitable.