AUGUSTA, GA - Local gospel artist Jubba has always had a place in his heart for musical ministry. As a youth, he and his siblings sang and ministered in a gospel group called The Dyer 5, in which they gained popularity. Their fame led them to be nominated for 2 JAMI awards (equivalent to Grammys here in the U.S.) in his native Jamaica.

After locating to the States for a better education at the urging of his father, music was placed on the back burner, but not for long. Even though he focused on the books for a little while, his calling still tugged on his sleeve, causing him to revive his love of performing.

“In ’98, I started a local, live music band, and we called ourselves Destyne,” he says, “and we played for like four, five years, and from there, I kind of parlayed into the solo thing and that’s when I recorded my first CD [‘Plenty Good’].”

While spreading the word through his music, Jubba became a regional success, which included having his music videos played on BET and the Word Network.

Because of his proven track record, he was enlisted by Ellis Johnson and Linwood Holmes — liaisons for the Greater Augusta Arts Council — to host an event that would be featured as part of the Westobou Festival Choral Artists Series. The end result would be Jubba & Friends, a concert that would not only showcase local and statewide talent, but also serve a good cause.

“Instead of just throwing a gospel concert, I wanted to do something that had impact and give back to the community I admired,” Jubba explained. “So we decided to use the concert as a way to raise money for the Child Enrichment Center.”

Jubba assures that there’s something for everybody at the concert, although he labels the event as having a “youthful flair.” “This [concert] is supposed to be catered a little bit more to the youth, but I’ve always been somebody that tries to be all-inclusive, and anybody that loves the Lord can come.”

Among the long list of performers at the event are M. D. Stokes and Victorious Praise, which is a choir headed by Stokes, one of the area’s top music producers; Christian rappers Sleepy Eyez and The Lively Stones; Jay Reed; Shawna Dominique; gospel groups Blessed and IV Christ; Taken by Force, a mime group from Statesboro, Ga.; and poet Semone Reynolds.

Evidenced by the diverse roster, Jubba hopes that through them, the purpose associated with the event reaches beyond measure.

“So what we’re trying to do is spread the arts in the Christian community,” he says, “and find a way to communicate the message of Christ through the arts.”

Jubba & Friends
Jessye Norman Amphitheatre
Saturday, Sept. 27
2 p.m.
$5 adults; $2 children
jubbaonline.com