MALVERN'S resident reggae star Ben Okafor is to turn his attention back to recording his latest album after a successful performance at this year's Glastonbury Festival.

The talented musician graced Glastonbury's World Jazz stage at the Festival, as did 10CC and his old African favourites Ossibissa.

"It was electric stuff. There was music from all over the place and it always humbles me when people show appreciation for what I do," Ben said.

Since moving to Malvern five years ago to be near his two daughters, the 48-year-old musician has launched his own record label, Roadsweeper Records, and the album will be his fifth British one.

Prior to moving to the UK, aged 25, Ben had some musical success in his homeland of Nigeria.

His inspiration to become a songwriter came after the Biafran civil war when, aged 14, he joined a special platoon of soldiers only to escape duty because of family problems on the day his friends were captured and tortured.

Ben found his calling after hearing the anti-establishment tomes of reggae superstars Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff.

Now in a bid to spread his name and have his music more widely known, he is performing at several festivals this year.

Fresh from the success of Glastonbury, he is set to perform at Bristol Harbour Festival on July 27, ROX2002 free festival in Bognor Regis (August 17/18) and at the Greenbelt festival, Cheltenham Racecourse (August 23 to 26).

For more information about Ben's future gigs and Roadsweeper visit www.roadsweeperrecords.co.uk.