Singer Meta Dia, a new icon of roots and international reggae, will be in exceptional concert in Dakar on May 9th, headlining Stereo Africa, a major festival of contemporary African and diaspora music celebrating its fifth anniversary.

"Playing in Senegal is my biggest dream!", the Senegalese-born singer-songwriter, who settled in the United States nearly 25 years ago and is releasing his fifth album, "Echoes of Time", at the end of May, told AFP.

The albums of Meta and the Cornerstones, an international reggae group with Afro, soul and hip-hop influences and a roots reggae base, have been praised for their contribution to modern reggae music.

The artist Meta - who sings in English, French, Wolof and Pulaar - is renowned for his music with messages of commitment and unity and his captivating stage performances.

"Senegal shaped me spiritually, and this spirituality is the backbone of my music; it's the message I carry with me everywhere," he emphasizes. "I've traveled around the world, but I miss the place I call home, so having this opportunity to return and play in Senegal is a joy."

Meta has chosen to reconnect with the Senegalese scene and its audience by performing at the Stereo Africa Festival - whose 5th edition is being held from May 5 to 10 in Dakar and its surroundings - praising "the commitment and love for culture" shown by the festival team and its director Sahad Sarr, author-composer, singer, founder of the Senegalese group SAHAD.

Sahad Sarr told AFP that Meta and the Cornerstones "represent the most talented ambassador of African reggae in the world right now."

The Stereo Africa Festival aims to "reveal the richness and diversity of Senegalese, African and diasporic scenes" by offering a variety of genres (afrobeat, funk, jazz, soul, traditional music), according to the organizers.

The program for this 5th edition includes around thirty concerts, including the Senegalese artist Mao Sidibé, the Haitian singer with mixed hip-hop Vox Sambou, the group SAHAD, a figure in contemporary music in West Africa and their latest euphoric album "African West Station", the jazz accordionist Livia Mattos (Brazil), or the afro-electro-jazz duos Esinam & Sibusile Xaba (Belgium/Ghana/South Africa) and high soul GeminiCrab.

Since its inception, the festival has brought together more than 10,000 participants and 250 local and international artists. It also offers the "Stereo Revelations" program, a springboard for young Senegalese talent, which has allowed previous winners to be mentored for a year to develop professionally.