Romain Virgo, Chris Martin give Sizzla his flowers
Published:Saturday | October 25, 2025 | 12:08 AMNatasha Williams/ Gleaner Writer
Reggae artistes Christopher Martin and Romain Virgo are confident of carrying on the musical torch with the impact, influence and strong inspirations garnered from legend, Sizzla. Just after his rootsy performance tailored for Sizzla’s Rise To The Occasion concert, The Gleaner caught up with Virgo, who reminisced on how Sizzla’s strong influence almost saw him turn to Rastafarianism.
“It means everything to be here. Sizzla is somebody who, maybe if I was still in high school and still inna mi parents’ company, then today my locks would be all di way to di ground,” he said smiling.
“I swear he has transformed a lot of lives and a lot of young men in a very positive way. He’s like my brother, suh big up to Sizzla Kalonji for the works that he has done over the years. Thirty years is no joke and 30 years of consistent, life-changing music is absolutely amazing and it’s such a joy to be here.”
He confidently shared that Sizzla’s career also stands as an inspiration for his musical visions.
“Once yuh doing reggae music, you have to have that kinda vision, enuh. Suh di most yuh affi pray for is long life and health, because wi know di mission, the goal, and I know what I’m all about and what I want and the kinda message I want to put forward in my music,” he stated.
Still sweating from his performance, which also saw him paying tribute to Sizzla through his rendition of Holding Firm, Virgo said this is also a track he includes in his sets to show his “respect”. After riling up the crowd, he then dropped two of his notable singles, Mi Caan Sleep and Fade Away, before making way for Martin.
Bouncing his way onstage, Martin soothed the audience with the melody of Sizzla’s Give Thanks and his tribute, before he smoothly segued into his hit tracks, Mama and Cheater’s Prayer. In between ‘bigging up’ Sizzla, while freestyling his Big Deal single, Martin hailed Sizzla as “the general [who’s] very important as 30 years is a big deal”.
“A mi general, stalwart and column inna di business. Dem man deh create a whole revolution inna Jamaica enuh, he’s the reason why a lot of the younger ones before me went the whole Rastafari route. Coming from country to town, to being involved in music, to now being on stages wid him and to be able to be even specially invited to his celebration tonight, is a blessing man,” Martin said.
He stressed that the most important part about the celebration is that Sizzla “is alive to receive it”. Virgo agreed, adding that he’s “tired fi see people a get dem flowers when dem pass weh”.
“Yuh cyaah touch it, yuh cyaah feel the words, it just don’t make any sense. Sizzla absolutely deserve every love and support he gets [from both] fans and artistes,” he added.
Both praised Sizzla for encouraging them during their careers.
“I saw him at the Caribbean Music Awards and he was just telling me [that] he likes what we have done with the music and the pressure it puts us under to create good, quality music. I thought that was the best thing someone could’ve possibly said because it’s true and, doing this kinda music over the years, it makes you want to push harder because you know you have big shoes to fill,” said Virgo.
Martin noted that Sizzla commended his voice the first time he saw him early in his career.
“Just one encouraging word can really set yuh on the path to greatness, suh big up ‘Dada’ fi dat man,” he said.