Page 87 - Reggae Festival Guide Magazine 2017

and on target to do what roots reggae music Micah Shemaiah, Hempress Sativa, Nadia

has promulgated: Rastafari works, increasing McAnuff, Earth and The Fullness, Runkus, Koro

peace, love, world citizenship, international Fyah, Evaflow, Lila Ike and Sevana are here. They

morality, things like these. It could not seem will never all be named at once. They represent
merely coincidental to any keen observer that many flavors in music, but all are connected

the artists most recognized as leaders of this to a core culture, some at the root and some

musical generation have all, without exception, breezing out on the branches.
presented themselves to the industry with

varying degrees of Rastafari declarations. One Some years ago, I wondered with a dropped

of them bemoaned the trials of being unable jaw why, while the Reggae Revival was in full

to impress his girlfriend’s corporate father with swing, one prominent festival organizer sat on
his natty head. Another dismissed Lipton and a panel and offered this, his nugget of advice to

Tetley for her preferred ganja tea. One wanted to emerging reggae artists: if you want to succeed

remind people to link Bobo Hill, Orthodox and in the music marketplace, don’t sing too much

Twelve Tribes of Israel. Another pointed out that about Rastafari! The statement alone churned
we should know the Christ by a new name. And my stomach just short of full blown nausea. It

one came to recruit souljahs from near and far to was either grossly disrespectful or incredibly

execute Selassie I works. Theirs are snippets of ignorant as one of the gatekeepers into the

the collective mentality. North American roots experience to say such
a thing. Such sentiments display scant regard
This mentality has, time and again, stirred up for the culture fueling the music that makes
excitement in the global music industry. Look money for him and his ilk, that makes millions

at the history. See Bob, Peter and Bunny. See of concert patrons worldwide experience

Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor, Jacob Miller long-lasting, positive shifts in their lives, and

and Burning Spear. See Augustus Pablo and that makes the artists and musicians pour their
Hugh Mundell. See Black Uhuru, Israel Vibration, entire beings into a serious craft only for it to

The Abyssinians, The Twinkle Brothers, The be treated as trivial entertainment.

Mighty Diamonds, The Meditations, The Wailing

Souls, Cultural Roots, Black Roots, Inner Circle, This is the thing that upsets me most, even as
Third World. See them all and more than can I drift in and out of the reggae music industry,

be recalled in one fell swoop of the mind. Look sharing moments of love with those who I meet.

again. Here comes Garnett Silk. Here comes Deep within, I am disturbed by the seeming lack

Tony Rebel. Here comes Luciano. Here comes of respect for the culture that drives this great
Buju Banton. What about Capleton, Sizzla and impactful music called reggae. Sadly, I have

Kalonji, Morgan Heritage, Queen Ifrica, Richie the same concern regarding attitudes within

Spice, I-Wayne, Jah Cure, Etana, Fanton Mojah, my homeland too. This past April, the Jamaican
Chuck Fenda, Anthony B, Warrior King, Lutan police violently raided Kingston Dub Club, a

Fyah? Now here comes trouble again. I and I spiritual mecca for our creative movement. In

ah pass through. Dubtonic Kru is here, Raging fact, the raid took place on the very night the

Fyah is here. Uprising Roots is here, Pentateuch roots community was celebrating Groundation

is here. Dre Island and Keznamdi are here. Aza Day. It was the 51st annual commemoration
Lineage, Exile Di Brave, Selah and Gideon, of His Imperial Majesty’s legendary visit

REGGAE FESTIVAL GUIDE 2017 87