Global Reggae Charts - Issue #4 / August 2017

REGIONAL
RADIO
ITALY
global reggae charts
featured voter
INTERVIEW
In this edition of the magazine we talk to Vitowar,
who presents his radio show on Radio Popolare
Network since 1988.
Global Reggae Charts: Can you please introduce
yourself and your radio show!
Vitowar: I was born in 1962 and in 1986 I started to
work in the reggae scene in Milan, the city where I’m
living. I was promoting reggae events and I organized
various reggae nights, mostly at Leoncavallo, the
biggest community center in Milan.
In 1988 I was approached by Paolo Minella, a radio
host at Popolare Network FM station, to host/organize
a reggae radio show every Sunday night.
Since almost 30 years, Vitowar is live and direct
every Sunday night with REGGAE RADIO STATION
ITALY on Popolare Network. The show quickly became
a reference point of the reggae scene in Italy with
charts, pre-release records from Jamaica, interviews
and international guests.
GRC: Someone once told me that you are the veteran
of the Italian reggae radio scene. How would you
describe your position and stand?
V: I don’t like the word “veteran” so much because I
never fought a war.
I believe “pioneer” describes me better.
For sure I belong to the first generation of reggae
fans in Italy, the ones who were attracted by the
sound but also by the political and spiritual message
of this music as a way to escape the boring reality of
the Italian society in the late 70s / early 80s.
That’s what Reggae Radio Station has always been
trying to promote and nowadays it’s the longest running
radio show in Italy, nobody else has lasted for
30 years on Italian airwaves.
GRC: What made you fall in love with reggae music
and how did you end up in the radio?
V: My first contact with reggae was when I bought
the Exodus LP from Bob Marley and The Wailers.
Soon after, I was blessed to see the King of Reggae
live on stage in Milan in June 1980, probably the
biggest concert he ever had in front of an audience
of 100k people. That night I fell in love with reggae
music.
The reggae events I organize, the concerts, the radio
show are a direct consequence of my passion which
is still alive and burning.
GRC: Are you involved with the reggae business outside
of the radio as well?
V: I have always tried to promote Italian reggae artists,
I started to organize concerts with the first wave
of Italian bands such as Africa Unite, Different Stylee,
Pitura Freska, Sud Sound System. Nowadays I still
push the Italian scene with bands like Mellow Mood,
Train To Roots, David Lion, Raphael and many others.
I have always believed promoting local artists is
the best way to grow the reggae scene in Italy and
increase awareness of the true message of reggae
music. Some of my events really became a classic reference
point for the Italian reggae scene, especially
global reggae charts | issue 4 / august 2017 4