Arqane Finds ‘Home Away from Home’ in Sierra Leone

The rising reggae-dancehall artiste reflects on his recent performance in Africa, global lessons learned, and why music became his tool for healing after Hurricane Melissa

Reggae and dancehall artiste Arqane

Reggae artiste Arqane recently graced stages across the globe, including the prestigious One Nation Reggae Festival in Sierra Leone. Sharing a lineup with icons such as Sizzla, Christopher Martin, and Queen Ifrica, the rising talent embraced the moment as a milestone in his journey.

“The experience showed me that the level it takes to become that caliber is not too far from me - I’m actually already there. Sharing the stage with them was a full-circle moment”, he said. “I grew up around some of these heavyweights, waving the flag as a child, and now I get to stand beside them and share my talents while receiving the same level of international love. Witnessing that was a confirmation of destiny for me.”

Speaking about the deeper significance of performing in Sierra Leone, Arqane described the trip as profoundly grounding. “Sierra Leone was an eye opening experience, the people, the landscape, the food, the creole they speak, almost everything is the same as Jamaica, it was like performing in my home away from home”.

Reflecting on the lessons gained from major international stages, he emphasized that energy is everything. He added that audiences worldwide love reggae just as much as dancehall, reminding him of the importance of maintaining a diverse catalogue that connects across cultures.

Arqane was also a key part of the Tycoon and Friends Live performance show for Hurricane Melissa relief, a moment he describes as an unquestionable duty. For him, the decision to lend his voice and talent to the cause came from a place of identity and responsibility. “I make dancehall and reggae, which is the heart of the Jamaican people. I am Jamaican. Jamaica was affected by something like Melissa, so I figured it was a must to use my talents to generate healing for the people,” he shared.

He believes deeply in the role music plays during moments of national hardship. While reggae has long been recognized as a global force for healing, unity, and consciousness, Arqane wanted to highlight that dancehall. “Reggae has always been known for healing, but I have never seen Dancehall looked at also as healing. I am both a Dancehall & Reggae artist and I wanted to show that despite dancehall being a fun genre it can also be used to heal the people, it just seeks out the healing in a different avenue than reggae. I used Tycoon & Friends to showcase this,” the artist explained.

“Reggae has always been known for healing, but I have never seen Dancehall looked at also as healing. I am both a Dancehall & Reggae artist and I wanted to show that despite dancehall being a fun genre it can also be used to heal the people, it just seeks out the healing in a different avenue than reggae.”

Looking ahead, Arqane says 2026 is already shaping up to be a defining year. With his name spelled A-R-Q-A-N-E, the artiste is gearing up to deliver even more to his growing global audience. He shared that fans can expect his third EP, Tycoon Luv, along with a wave of fresh dancehall and reggae releases that reflect his evolving sound and versatility.