Leighton Levy, Star Writer

Chris Martin addresses the massive crowd in Kenya. - Contributed photos

Ce'Cile wows fans.

Chris Martin has always known he was loved here in Jamaica.

Back in 2005 when he was crowned Digicel Rising Star, thousands flocked to see him at Emancipation Park causing the grand finale that was supposed to have been held there to be postponed, thus delaying his inevitable coronation that year. By his own admission, Martin had not seen a crowd like that since. That is, until March 5 when he performed in Nairobi, Kenya, and where he felt more love than he has ever felt before.

Reports from Kenya, where Martin performed along with Ce'Cile and D-Major, say more than 8,000 people packed inside the venue to see the singer, with an additional estimated 10,000 outside unable to get in. "The last time I felt that level of stardom was when I was fresh off of Rising Star," Martin said following his return home last week.

His voice trembled slightly as he recalled the excitement of the experience in Nairobi, Kenya, where last year he was voted Male Artiste of the Year. "Girls were diving at me trying to touch me," he said smiling at the memory. "They love reggae music and they love singers."

From the moment they stepped off the plane from the 23 hours of flights to Africa, the trio was subject to A-list treatment from the Kenyan people. "At the airport there were cameras and microphones, bodyguards were assigned to us, real superstar treatment," Martin said.

At the show that was attended by the son of the US Ambassador to Kenya, Martin tore it up with songs and had the women screaming and the men in awe of him. He also performed Real Friends with D-Major, who also performed solo. Ce'Cile, who had recently recorded a song with a Kenyan artiste, Wrye, was also very well received. "They were really crazy about Ce'Cile," Martin said. "It was great response. People were singing along with you. It was over the top."

According to the singer who turned 24 last month, his fans in Kenya love everything he sings. "Paper Loving is the biggest reggae song," he said. "My Ex-Girl, Here for you Always, Feel So Good, Me and You, songs that are relatively less loved here in Jamaica are major hits in Kenya," he said.

Following the performance, comments like "Blessingz my fren! RT @here_is_patrick: Iamchrismartin@IAMTHECECILE killed it tonite crazy show I should have paid more" flooded the Twitter pages of Martin, his manager Lydon Lettman, Ce'Cile and D-Major's Twitter pages.

Martin says the experience has given him new impetus. "I feel renewed because I realise that this is massive work we're dealing with. It was worth the almost 23 hours of flying," he said. "As a Rising Star, people loved me for singing other people's songs. These people love me for my own songs."

Prior to Martin's arrival in Kenya, there were negotiations ongoing to have him perform in Mombasa and Rwanda but the singer said the "timing was not right" so those shows never happened. However, he plans to be in Africa, including Nigeria, Rwanda and Dubai, by summer if everything goes according to plan. "In all those markets, the music is happening," he said.

Much like it was happening in Kenya on March 5. "It was a great feeling," he said.