Rastafari Never Fail I Yet

published: Sunday | April 17, 2005
Cedric Wilson, Guest Columnist

THE BALLOTS have been counted, the votes tallied and the results yield no surprise. Bruce Golding, leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has emerged miles ahead of his three rivals in the West Kingston by-election.

Such is the reality of garrison politics in Jamaica. It is easier to have a hurricane in January or for it to snow in Montego Bay than for voters in a garrison to elect a representative from a different party.

Yet, for all the certainty of the outcome at last Thursday's poll, if we consider Ras Astor Black, the man who got eight votes against Mr. Golding's 8,000, it is evident that the by-election was not entirely about garrison politics.

It's not the first time Ras Black of the Jamaica Alliance Movement has offered to serve as a member of Parliament. In March 2001 in the Northeast St. Ann by-election, he was there as a candidate ­ Shahine Robinson of the JLP won. He also ran in the October 2002 General Election for the Northwest St. James parliamentary seat in which Dr. Horace Chang of the JLP emerged victorious.

Historically, third parties have failed to impact Jamaican politics, yet Ras Black entered the race. Never mind the fact that he lacked the resources to mount a serious campaign - and don't introduce the impossibility of a garrison constituency to an outsider - what is striking about Ras Black is his remarkable tenacity and his indomitable belief that the life of the ordinary Jamaican nan be far better.

STRUGGLE OF RASTAFARI

Ras Black draws inspiration from his faith in Rastafari. Four years ago, during the run up to the Northeast St. Ann by-election, RJR talk show host, Barbara Gloudon interviewed him. She asked him why he was so confident of victory in the election. His laconic response was 'Rastafari never fail I yet'.

More than anything, Rastafari genius lies in its symbolism. Indeed, its contribution to the forging of a Jamaican consciousness is derived from the fact that it recreated the dominant images of Christianity in the likeness of the black man and therefore it substituted the Emperor Halie Selassie for a blond, blue-eyed Jesus. It hailed Marcus Garvey, a man despised by many middle and upper-class Jamaicans before the 1960s, as a prophet. It tapped into the indigenous rhythms of the people and used reggae as a vehicle to bring to the foreground the lamentations and the hopes of the oppressed and the dispossessed. Indeed, Bob Marley, perhaps the most well-known apostle of the faith, is embraced internationally through his songs because the struggle of Rastafari is universal. And like the seventeenth century French philosopher Rene Descartes, who reaffirmed his existence when he declared 'Cognito, ergosum: I think, therefore I am', Rastafari proclaims the pride in the black identity in the assertion of 'I and I'. In stating 'I and I', the rastaman blurs the definition between the first person and the third person; he discards the distinction between 'me and you' because there is the implicit knowledge that one man's existence cannot be separated from that of the other man. It is in this respect Rastafari, through the manipulation of symbols and use of language, brought the social issues of the people at the base of the society from the background to the foreground and created the mood, the rethinking of the socio-economic model of the 1960s and 70s.

The question is: What are the policies Ras Black and the Jamaica Alliance Movement propose? At the launch of the movement October 2001, Ras Black proclaimed a message of love stated that the goal is to downsize the parliament to 14 members; cease the repayment of debt for 20 years in order to rebuild the country's infrastructure; remove all taxes from imports; abolish income taxes and increase the general consumption tax to 17 per cent.

IMPRACTICAL POLICY PRESCRIPTION

Certainly, the budget should be smaller with fewer parliamentarians, but the policy prescription is at best impractical. The implications are grave when the implications for balancing the budget, addressing a massive balance of payment imbalance and the reaction of the international community a default by Jamaica in payments of its debt.

And yet, we cannot deny that behind Ras Black and his movement is a hope that most Jamaicans cherish - the elimination of the paralysing violence and a desire for economic prosperity.

When Ras Black journeyed from his home in Trelawny to run as a candidate in West Kingston, the very birth place of the Rastafari faith, it was a symbolic trip. And in doing what many would never dare to even contemplate, he epitomises the soul of Jamaica.

There was no way he could ever win and yet he believes that there is the possibility for change. Maybe when he says victory is sure because "Rastafari never fail I yet" he really means for any people 'hope will never fail'.

Cedric Wilson is an economics consultant who specialises in market regulation. Send your comments to conoswil@hotmail.com.
Link to original article -
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050417/cleisure/cleisure5.html

Help JAM FREE-UP the Trench Town Experience

Rastafari Family,

Help JAM FREE-UP the Trench Town experience so it can start the flow of love, again, from Back-a-wall to the world.

I, Ras Astor Black, Ras-pectfully request your assistance in reaching out to the Rastafari Entertainers and Rastafari Family giving I the opportunity to speak as the Member of Parliament for Western Kingston. Rastafari must have a voice in their parliament to continue the good work of our brother Bob Marley.

On April 13th the JAM symbol on the ballot will be the HEART. Most Jamaicans today say they are Rastafari in the HEART and with that at HEART, I man would love to see the People of Western Kingston vote for the people of Jamaica with their HEART.

To contribute from the HEART to the Love’N Jamaica Campaign, please send or deposit some funds in the Rastafari Affinity Account number 10134860 (JNBS MoBay Branch) or any Jamaica National Building Society in Jamaica.

For more information call: Ras Astor Black, President, Jamaica Alliance Movement
876-421-4189

Thanks from the HEART

Ras Astor Black

MUSICALLY SPEAKING: WAILERS LEGACY...

You may be interested in this but be sure to read Ras John's editorial comment linked at the end of the article as a comment.


Historical box set on Wailers by Bunny Wailer now available
By Basil Walters Observer staff reporter
Friday, March 18, 2005

The long awaited historical box set documenting the history of the
famed Wailers group by Bunny Wailer is now on the market. On the box
set Bunny Wailer (Neville O'Riley Livingston) traces the history of
the group and his special relationship with members Bob Marley and
Peter Tosh from as early as their childhood days.

Bunny Wailer

"As you know, last year was the Wailers' 40th anniversary, but we're
now into 2005, and I've put together this box set of about 107 tracks
to mark the celebration of that milestone of the Wailers," Bunny
Wailer told Splash.

"Four CDs having the musical renditions of the Wailers and three CDs
contain a written and narrated professional history of the Wailers by
I Bunny Wailer entitled "Musically Speaking: The Wailers Legacy".
These latter three CDs will clear the air of a lot of things people
write about the Wailers fictitiously and otherwise. Coming from the
lion's mouth (not horses') who was there and who was a part of all of
what took place."

The box set also contains a picture booklet of those people who shared
in the history of the Wailers and according to Bunny Wailer "weh other
people leave out when dem a write dem history... I make sure seh,
these people who were the Wailers' heart and soul, some of whom are
still alive, I make sure their pictures are in the booklet and the
environment that the Wailers grew up in."

Jah B, as Bunny Wailer is also known, said that his latest project is
designed to fight against piracy, an issue he feels passionately about
and is committed to fight against.

"So this box set now is also designed to fight against piracy and
bootlegging of the Wailers that have been happening for so many years,
about three decades now. But I don't give up the struggle of fighting
against piracy."

The box set is packaged in what resembles a replica of the Ark of the
Covenant which Bunny Wailer described as "a treasure chest of vintage
Wailers plus...."

People for a Rastafari Government in Jamaica

4 candidates for West Kingston poll
Colourful parades in peaceful nomination day
(from an article by BALFORD HENRY, Observer writer on
Thursday, March 24, 2005 followed by a message from Astor Black)



The four candidates who were nominated yesterday to contest the West Kingston by-election. From left: Michael Elliott, NDM; Joseph 'Bunny' Witter, PNP; Bruce Golding, JLP; and Ras Astor Black, Jamaica Alliance Movement . (Photos: Bryan Cummings)

MARCHING bands and colourful parades characterised yesterday's nomination day in West Kingston as four candidates entered the race to fill the parliamentary seat left vacant in January by former Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Edward Seaga.

The four - newly-elected leader of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party, Bruce Golding; Joseph "Bunny" Witter, a 43 year-old technician, for the People's National Party (PNP); Michael Elliott, a businessman who is running for an alliance comprising the National Democratic Movement (NDM) and the Republican Party; and Rastafarian Astor Black, president of the Jamaica Alliance Movement (JAM) - will do battle for the more than 17,000 electors on the list for the April 13 poll.


Greetings from Ras Astor Black

Please contribute to the Love’N Jamaica Campaign, send or deposit some funds in the Rastafari Affinity Account number 10134860 (MoBay Branch) at any Jamaica National in Jamaica. It will help us with our radio and print marketing and for more information call I man, Ras Astor Black, President of the Jamaica Alliance Movement at 876-421-4189.

Now that they are going, going and gone, the Jamaica Alliance Movement will alien with good people for a new way of life for Jamaicans at home and abroad, a Jamaica where all of us will be free and equal in dignity and rights and act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood.

A Jamaica where everyone will be entitled to all the rights and freedoms without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, Rastafari, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

All Jamaican will have the right to life, liberty and security of person and will not be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade will be prohibited in all their forms. No one will be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Everyone will get the right to recognition as a person before the law.

All Jamaican will be equal before the law and will be given without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. Jamaicans will receive equal protection against all discrimination. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Everyone will have full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Everyone charged with a penal offence will be given the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he or she has had all the guarantees necessary for his or her defense. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, or to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Jamaicans will have the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment and without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

Jamaicans who works will receive a just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself or herself and his or her family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

Jamaicans will be given the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his or her interests and will have the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Standards of living will be adequate for the health and well-being of the Jamaican family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond control. Motherhood and childhood will be entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

All Jamaicans will have the right to education. Education will be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education will be made generally available and higher education will be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

Education will be directed to the full development of the Jamaican personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. Parents will have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Everyone will have the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits, and the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he or she is the author.

The soon to be post-governments did not set concrete aim for overseas investment and attach more importance to the quality and practical effects rather than just its quantity.

Rastafari, The Hon. Bob Marley promote Jamaica love to a world audience and today we all can just see the result, but our Jamaica can not be a part of the booming tourism industry that they enjoy.

Jamaicans, if Western Kingston is to be the next tourist attraction, let us all do the right thing on Election Day; allow the Rastafari, Ras Astor Black, to colt the BIG game by voting Jamaica Alliance Movement. Retire the Ps into the history book of the next generation.

JAM will FREE-UP the Trench Town experience so it start flowing again, from Back-a-wall to the world, I, Ras Astor Black respectfully ask to be the next Member of Parliament for West Kingston which will give Rastafari a voice in their parliament to continue the good work of our brother Bob Marley.

To contribute to the Love’N Jamaica Campaign, please send or deposit some funds in the Rastafari Coop Affinity Account number 10134860 (MoBay Branch) at any Jamaica National in Jamaica.

For more information call Ras Astor Black, President of the Jamaica Alliance Movement at 876-421-4189

Things Are Looking Up For REGGAE Promoters Around The Country

Positive Vibration: Reggae Is Right At Home In The Region

March 25, 2005

By Tom Huntington Arts Correspondent


When reggae legend Frederick "Toots" Hibbert came to Vermont a couple of years ago to record a song with resident guitar star Trey Anastasio at the former Phish member's renowned recording studio in Westford, he felt right at home.

"It was nice, because the air was like up in the mountains in Jamaica," says Hibbert, a native son of the island country who gave reggae its name with his 1968 hit song, "Do the Reggay."

Whether it's the fresh mountain air, the laid-back vibe or the independent spirit, there's just something about reggae that has struck a chord with denizens of the Green Mountain State — a chord that has gotten considerably stronger since Bob Marley properly introduced the dance-inducing music to Vermont a quarter of a century ago when he played at Memorial Auditorium in Burlington.

Originally nurtured in the state by the now defunct Vermont Reggae Festival, and then by 1990s Burlington nightclub Club Toast and by Burlington-area music hall Higher Ground, reggae now seems to have its Green Mountain epicenter in Stowe – though Montpelier will likely be getting a taste of the action in the not-too-distant future.

Carlo Rovetto, 32, presented annual reggae shows on his own property in Plainfield "until they got too huge," he says. Last year, he and Patrick Brooks of Stowe, Rovetto's partner in 1 Lb. Productions, as they call themselves, decided to move the popular "house parties" to area venues, finding an especially appreciative audience at the Rusty Nail Bar & Grille in Stowe. The revamped nightspot has become an unofficial home for the concert series, though 1 Lb. recently presented shows at the Eclipse Theater in Waitsfield as well.

The first two 1 Lb. presentations – the second featured legendary reggae rhythm duo Sly & Robbie – sold out the sizable Rusty Nail in advance.

From there, "it just took off," says Rovetto.

Upcoming 1 Lb. shows at the Nail include Toots and the Maytals on Wednesday, and the solid double bill of golden-throated old-school soldiers Don Carlos (Black Uhuru co-founder) and Apple Gabriel (of Israel Vibration) on May 13.

The Toots and the Maytals show is a serious coup for the upstart presenters, as it comes a mere month after the soulful singer garnered a Grammy Award for best reggae album for his star-studded 2004 album, "True Love." Easily one of the year's best albums – Billboard magazine called it "a 55-minute party in a jewel case" – and a must-have for anyone who has even the slightest interest in reggae music – the disc finds Toots revisiting his impressive arsenal of classic songs and sounding better than ever, perhaps inspired by such special guests as Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Trey Anastasio, No Doubt and Ryan Adams.

"It's a really big show for us," says Rovetto. "We're excited to have it."

Rovetto, who owns the popular Plainfield pizzeria Positive Pie, says he also plans to present live music at a second Positive Pie location, Positive Pie-Squared, in downtown Montpelier, which he hopes to open "by June."

Rovetto describes the sizable, 2700-ft. space, which formerly housed the State Street Market, as a "restaurant and lounge" that will have "occasional entertainment" on weekends. The space will be equipped with a full stage and live sound system as well as an in-house sound system for DJs, he says.

Rovetto says that 1 Lb. is also hoping to present an out-door concert sometime this summer.

"We do have a plan to do something outdoors this summer," says Rovetto.

"Whether it works out or not is going to depend on a lot of factors, but we're hoping that we can make it happen."

Upcoming reggae shows
# Wednesday: Toots and the Maytals with Fear Nuttin' – Rusty Nail, 10 p.m., $25.
# Sunday: Jimmy Cliff with Matisyahu the Hassidic Reggae Superstar – Higher Ground, 9 p.m. $20 advance/$23 day of show (all ages).
# Saturday, April 2: Mikey Dread with Trumystic – Rusty Nail.
# Saturday, April 16: Dub Is a Weapon – Rusty Nail.
# Friday, May 13: Stowe – Don Carlos, Apple Gabriel and Groundation – Rusty Nail.
# Saturday, May 28: Culture – Rusty Nail.

The Rusty Nail is located at 1190 Mountain Road in Stowe (all shows are 21+); for information, call 253-6245 or go online to: www.rustynailbar.com. Higher Ground is located at 1214 Williston Road in S. Burlington; for information, call 654-8888 or go online to: www.highergroundmusic.com. For information about 1 Lb. Productions, go online to: www.1lbproductions.com.

Link to original article in the Barre Montpelier TIMES ARGUS
http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050325/NEWS/503250310/1011

The Wailers: LIve and Direct

21.03.05
by Scott Kara

The man with the soothing Jamaican accent won’t take full responsibility for the most important reggae album made, but Wailers’ bass player Aston "Family Man" Barrett accepts a fair chunk of the glory for 1974’s Natty Dread by Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Okay, to be fair, let’s rephrase that to say, arguably, Natty Dread is the most important reggae album made.

Whether he is getting royalties from the album is another story - more on Barrett’s bitter dispute with Marley’s wife Rita and family later - but he’ll tell you he is hugely responsible for the album that took reggae to the mainstream, thanks to songs such as Lively Up Yourself, No Woman, No Cry, and the Barrett-penned, Rebel Music (3 o’clock Road Block).

"From 1974, Bob Marley, myself and my brother [Carlton "Carlie" Barrett, the drummer] became partners and that’s where we set the real international standard for reggae music worldwide. Bob has gone to rest now but I am here, I am the colonel, I am the lieutenant," he says, laughing.

Barrett has taken over the Wailers’ name and still tours the world playing gigs. The band, also featuring Wailers’ guitarist Junior Marvin, who played on Exodus (1977), Kaya (1978) and Uprising (1980), play the St James tomorrow night.

The Wailers formed in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1963 and were originally a vocal group comprising Bob Marley, Peter McIntosh (later Peter Tosh), Bunny Livingston (later Bunny Wailer), Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso, and Cherry Smith.

By 1966, Braithwaite, Kelso and Smith had left the group. By the late 60s the remaining trio were playing instruments and had hooked up with the Barrett brothers.

Marley first noticed the Barretts after hearing their band the Hippy Boys and through their work with Lee Scratch Perry and the Upsetters.

"That was what first brought us together. He sent for that bass player, the one they call Family Man. When he discovered me. He was surprised, he couldn’t believe Family Man was a youth, one year younger than them.

"When I play bass I pretend I am singing baritone. That’s why I create that melody climb, to make the music swing and sway, so the singer can flow on top of that."

The Wailers signed to Island Records in the early 70s and released Catch A Fire in 1973 and Burnin’ later that year.

"We came together in the late 60s as singers and players of instruments, and we were able to spread the message to all corners of the Earth," says Barrett.

But when composer/singer/percussionist Bunny Livingston and guitarist Peter Tosh left the band around 1973, it was uncertain whether the Wailers would continue.

"Bob said, ‘What are we going to do, there’s only three of us?’ I said, ‘The three of us can do it man, it’s the power of the trinity’.

"I rearranged our music room and turned it into a demo studio so we could record our new songs and get them ready for the studio, and we did and came [up] with that album called, Natty Dread," he says, pronouncing the name of the album with grinning satisfaction.

Barrett is still involved in a long and bitter dispute with the Marley family - fronted by Rita and Marley’s oldest child Cedella - over publishing royalties and other matters.

Touting himself as the "mastermind of the Bob Marley and the Wailers’ sound", Barrett says if it wasn’t for him the Marley family would still be living in the ghetto of Trenchtown in Jamaica.

"I am the one who made the Marley family so big and happy now. I am the one who created the music, arranged it, the bass player, the band leader.

"I play many other instruments on each album. And, of course, I am the sound engineer. I am the mastermind of the sound."

He and Marley became partners from 1974 onwards but "Rita Marley and Island [Records] pretend it never existed".

Yes, Barrett may come across as a miffed bandmate wanting the recognition and payment he deserves, especially since many of the former Wailers are now dead.

Marley died on May 11, 1981, of cancer, while Tosh and Carlton Barrett were murdered in separate incidents in 1987.

But for Barrett, who divides his time between Kingston, South Florida and Washington DC, the main focus is the music, not the money.

That’s not to say he doesn’t want his share. "Righteousness must exalt over weakness. They have the name Marley but none of them think like Bob."

According to Barrett, the Wailers’ show today is just like the old days. "We keep things the original way, the authentic style of whatever you hear on the recording.

"That’s what we give you, live and direct. And although we don’t have Bob Marley, Bob Nesta Marley with us, we’ve got [singer] Gary "Nesta" Pine.

"When he’s performing if you close your eyes, man, you think Bob Marley is on stage. The music is right and the lyrical message is still the same."

Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=100&ObjectID=10116302

Jammin'

With weather about as nice can be found anywhere, The 3rd Annual Langerado Music Festival arrived at Markam Park in Sunrise, Florida. It was a two day “Jam Band” festival. This might not normally have drawn our attention but recent Reggae Grammy Winner and long time star of the Jamaican Music Scene, Toots and The Maytals were a featured act Saturday afternoon. All together, the two days were filled with over two dozen bands, many of which we had never heard or even heard of.

Arriving, we found a parking lot with license plates from all over the north east. One of our crew claimed we had actually gone through some kind of time portal to a Woodstock-era 1968 going by how a large contingent of the crowd was dressed along with the spliffs and good cheer we encountered. The crowd mood and great weather helped but it was obvious that everything was very well organized by the festival promoters. It was very much a “One Love” vibe going on from the moment we entered the Park’s gates. It is a big park and a great setting for a concert festival. Three stages would keep the music going strong from the 11:30 AM start to the 9 PM finish each day and we found everything running pretty much right on schedule throughout. Again, a “Big-Up” to the promoters. We missed some of the early acts on Saturday – we really came to see Toots and The Maytals who pumped out a tight hour of Reggae/Ska Riddums from 3:30 to 4:30. As the longest established band on the bill, Toots said from the stage, ''Today I'm a teacher.'' And he delivered a great primer on the Roots Rock Reggae Music. A little research indicates a lot of Jam Band fans are Reggae Music fans too. Bob Marley images could be seen more than any other on every type of clothing and bag you could think of. Music vendors all carried big inventories of Reggae CDs and DVDs. And while there were not many Rasta’s in attendance, there were plenty of dreadlocks flowing. Toots delighted the crowd and certainly made several thousand people into bigger Reggae fans with his set.

Let’s talk about some of the other bands we got to hear. The stand-outs seemed to be on Sunday, spectacular day number 2. We were very glad we got there early enough to hear The Wrinkle Neck Mules, a five piece band out of Richmond, Virginia, who play a blend of country music that tips towards rock as well as traditional forms to put together a great opening set for the day. We’re hoping to get a recording of their set – very fortunate for lovers of Jam band music, elaborate personal recording set-ups are part of the scene. Next we heard California’s Donavon Frankenreiter who’s three piece band had the crowd singing along to a rockin’ set – we’ll take a recording of that one too. So as not to get repetitive, even though there were only occasional excursions into a Reggae beat, the tunes were dynamic and energized all day. You gotta check out the highly energized funk machine of Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe – another great set. As the day worked toward a close, improvisational trio Medeski Martin & Wood churned out a high octane blend of sound that led into the second performance by String Cheese Incident. Colorado’s String Cheese Incident headlined both days with the final sets from the main stage. In the tradition of the granddaddy of Jam Bands, The Grateful Dead, the two shows were very different from each other but both were filled with a broad mix of extended riddums and styles from Bluegrass to otherworldly improvisational Rock to nicely laid down Reggae vibes. We didn’t know many of these bands but all we can say is IRIE!

The thing that stands out from all of these performances is the joyous spirit infused in everything from Toots to String Cheese. The joy filled the crowd, no doubt helped by the clouds of herb and incense floating on the breeze throughout the two days. Along with the friendly crowd and great music, you could find all kinds of crafts and arts, all kinds of food and juices plus a Rain Forrest “misting” tent for those who needed to cool off and activities for kids. Festival organizers had people constantly picking up trash and even the portable toilets were kept in decent shape. This team has their act together. Who knows who will be on the bill next year – hopefully a Reggae act (Lucky Dube, Steel Pulse or a Sly & Robbie Dub set would make a good fit), but, if you like more than just Reggae and you want to sample the work of some of the best musicians around, put Langerado on your calendar for next March – www.langerado.com – see ya there!

A Bob Marley Day Where Raunchy Overwhelms Righteousness

Saturday, February 26, 2005, was the 12th Annual Bob Marley Day Festival in Miami. I have been to several of the shows over the years and it has always been a wonderful day. This year a $28.50 ticket and four cans of food products got you admission to the 12 hour event. Part of the proceeds from ticket sales and the contributions of canned food products are donated each year to help feed people in need in the Miami area. The show has usually been scheduled closer to Bob’s February 6th Birthday. This year, Bob’s talented children, who always headline the show, were in Ethiopia for a special celebration marking what would have been Bob’s 60th Birthday so the show was pushed back in the month.

When I saw the initial flyer for the show, I was excited to see most of the Marley brothers in the line-up. Elephant Man and Beenie Man were on the list too. What seemed really missing though was, other than the Marley Brothers, there didn’t seem to be much Roots “One Drop” Beat Reggae which of course is what Bob’s music is all about. More than that, it is Music with Spirit and a Conscious message. What we got on this day in the park was hours of non-conscious, slang and foul language gangster rap booty calls from a bunch of performers about as far from the Spirit of Bob Marley as you could get. Not saying there was no talent on the stage, just that it was the wrong time and place for it. Past years have seen great performances by many of the top name in Reggae – not this year. Even if none of the big name talent was available, there are a bunch of local Reggae bands that would have loved a chance to get up on the stage at Bayfront. What we got was NO REGGAE until nearly 10PM and up till then we got a few thousand four letter words, hardcore, often X-Rated hip-hop raps. I think Bob was probably turning over in his grave with the message delivered by the lyrics delivered from the stage most of the day. Let’s hope next year we can have positive Reggae Vibes fill the Bob Marley Day in Miami.

Your Invited ! See Steel Pulse LIVE

You and a guest are invited to be part of the audience at XM Satellite Radio's Performance Theater in Washington, DC for a performance by STEEL PULSE on Thursday, February 10, 2005.

Please email LIVE@XMRADIO.COM and put STEEL PULSE if you plan to attend. If you want to come with another person, please provide the name of that guest in your email. Space is limited, so please respond as soon as possible. Everyone will receive an "auto-response" when you email this address. We will confirm with everyone in a separate email.

Logistics
When: THURSDAY, February 10th , at 1:00 pm
Time:

Please arrive at the XM lobby by 12:15 pm for check-in. The performance will last approximately an 1 hour and 15 minutes. There is no photography, recording equipment, food or drink allowed in the studio. Please do not bring any other bags or packages with you, but please bring a valid driver's license for identification.

Location:XM's street address is:
1500 Eckington Place, Northeast
Washington, DC 20002

XM is located at the intersection of Florida and New York Avenues in Northeast, Washington, DC. There is plenty of on-street parking available in front of our building, in front of the Fedex building across the street and in the neighborhood adjoining our headquarters. One thing to note is that there are certain parking restrictions depending on the day of the week. Please read the signs.

Metro:
There is a shuttle from Union Station to XM that picks up and drops off on the west side of the station, in front of the Bureau of Labor Statistics on First Street, NE just across the street from the Metro Station entrance. The shuttle has an XM logo on its door. It departs Union Station at approximately :15 and :45 minutes past each hour. You are welcome to use this transportation. You can also take the Metro to the New York Avenue stop past Union Station and walk a block or 2 to our building.

Canceling:

If for any reason you find that you will be unable to attend the performance at any point prior, please email at live@xmradio.com as soon as possible.

Broadcast:
The session is being taped for broadcast on XM later this year. We will stay in contact to let you know when it airs. If you have any questions, please contact live@xmradio.com

Be there if you can, it's going to be an awesome show!

Ras John comments on The Grammy's for MSNBC

Check out Ras John's comments to MSNBC on the Reggae Grammy Nominations:
Ras John Comments on Reggae Grammy Nominations

ETHIOPIA: Marley event to highlight HIV/AIDS, war and poverty

Source: IRIN

ADDIS ABABA, 21 January (IRIN) - The wife of legendary reggae star Bob Marley is spearheading one of the largest ever music concerts in Ethiopia to celebrate his 60th birthday anniversary, organisers said on Friday.

The organisers hope to highlight issues like HIV/AIDS, war and poverty, while raising funds for tsunami relief in Somalia, the Shashemane Medical Centre and Bob Marley Youth Development Centre in downtown Addis Ababa.

"The Marley family is committed to progressing Bob's legacy as a champion for human rights," Desta Meghoo-Peddie, managing director of the Bob Marley Foundation, said. "We invite the world to celebrate with us in refuelling the spirit that will unify Africa, her sons and daughters in the Diaspora and work towards ending violence, poverty, injustice and discrimination."

Dubbed "Africa Unite" in tribute to one of Marley's most famous songs, several hundred thousand people are expected to attend the free month-long celebrations.

"Africa is Bob's spiritual home and so solidarity among other cultural activists across the continent is important to his family," Rita, his widow, said. "We want to negate the impoverished, dependent and hopeless images of Africa that are beamed around the world every day."

"Africa Unite" was designed to underscore the need for unity by all Africans, including those in the Diaspora, "to end the violence, poverty and suffering, which impacts the world", Rita said.

In what will be the first celebration of the singer's birthday outside Jamaica, stars from around the world are attending the 6 February event, which organisers estimate up to 400,000 people will attend in Addis Ababa.

African and international musicians, including Grammy Award winner India Arie, Angelique Kidjo, Shaggy, Luciano, Marley's children, Quincy Jones, Baaba Maal and Youssou N'Dour will take part.

The Cuban-born Rita also said she will be singing at the concert with Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt as the I-Threes, Marley's former back-up group. The concert is to be the highlight of the celebrations and will also include a film festival, seminars and a gala fundraiser using the themes of the reggae star's songs, including War, Exodus and Get Up Stand Up.

The African Union (AU), the World Bank, UNICEF, UNECA and Ethiopian government are supporting the event. The celebration will also feature the launch of Rita's biography entitled, "No Woman No Cry - My Life with Bob Marley", an exhibition of African art and three conferences on African unity, women and youth.

Ethiopia was chosen to host the events because of the key role it plays in the Rastafarian spiritual movement. Not only is former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, born Ras Tafari, the spiritual leader of the Rastafarians that Marley embraced and popularised, but Addis Ababa is the headquarters to the AU.

Celebrations are also set to take place in Shashemene, some 250 km south of Addis Ababa, which has become home to hundreds of Rastafarians. The Rastafarians, who are mainly from Jamaica, started migrating to Ethiopia 41 years ago after being given 500 hectares of land in Shashemene on which to settle by Selassie.

IRIN news

12th Annual Bob Marley Festival

The 12th Annual Bob Marley Caribbean Festival
and Food Drive
"Pass It On"


Saturday February 26, 2005
At Bayfront Park Amphitheater
301 N. Biscayne Blvd, Miami FL

An All Day Celebration of Music and Food Drive
Featuring
Ziggy Marley
Stephen Marley
Damian "Jr Gong" Marley
Beenie Man
Elephant Man
Daddy Yankie and Pittbull

Also the DJ Hosts:
DJ Khalid
Waggy T
Tom Laroc
Jah Stream

and more...

Let Bob Marley Rest In Peace

It has been widely reported that Rita Marley has told the government of Ethiopia that she is going to move the remains of her husband, Bob Marley, from his mountain top resting spot in the district of Nine Mile, Jamaica to his 'spiritual resting place' in Ethiopia. The Bob Marley and Rita Marley Foundations have denied press reports that the widow of the reggae legend plans to have his body exhumed from his Jamaican burial ground and entombed in Ethiopia. We at Reggae.com deeply hope that there is no real plan to take Bob’s body from Jamaica, the land of his birth and that it is just part of the hype associated with the benefit concert being staged in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa next month to celebrate what would have been Bob’s 60th Birthday.

Bob Marley's home is in Jamaica. He was born there. He grew up there. He is a product of Jamaican Culture. He is one, if not the most important person in Jamaican history. When he knew he was going to die soon, he left the cancer treatment clinic and where did he want to be? Jamaica. He died in Miami on his way home to Jamaica, not Ethiopia. We at Reggae.com believe this would be a sad betrayal of Bob, Jamaica and fans of his music and message whose seed grew out of fertile soil in Jamaica.

When Bob sang 'Africa Unite because your children want to come home', as he did throughout his songs, like many great writers and prophets he spoke in metaphor to paint a picture that would reach across time and culture. He was certainly also very concerned by the hurt and pain and tragedy experienced by so many on the African continent - horrors like Rwanda (you might want to see the movie Hotel Rwanda) and in the Sudan have been all too common. Africa Unite is, like many of Bob's songs, a prayer of hope. When Bob says Jamaica is too small for him and points toward Africa, it is about his impact and how he could deliver his message to do the most good with it - in fact, he very clearly was successful in planting seeds of his message to much of humanity worldwide and that message continues to be vital.

The “Back to Africa” movement that was promoted by Marcus Garvey came about not because an actual return to a spiritual home was needed but because Garvey began to question whether Blacks in America would ever be permitted to achieve any real equality. Marcus Garvey, like Bob, was a prophet and great spiritual being. His main message was one of empowering the Children of Africa through promoting education and personal success - he promoted "Black is Beautiful" long before the 60's . He strove to get Black People to take pride in themselves and in their race . . . to realize they were as great and noble as any race and that they had a rich heritage in their "spiritual" homeland of Africa. His movement had hoped that the heroism and honor displayed by Black soldiers in World War I would begin to turn the tide of respect and it didn’t happen. He only promoted repatriation to Africa out of frustration. He stated very clearly that "as we pray to Almighty God to save us through his Holy Words so shall we with confidence in ourselves follow the sentiment of the Declaration of Rights and carve our way to liberty." For Garvey,
it was no less than the will of God for Black people to be free to determine their own destiny. His organization took as its motto "One God! One Aim! One Destiny!" and looked to the literal fulfillment of Psalm 68:31: "Princes shall come out of Egypt: Ethiopia shall soon stretch forth her hands unto God." It was a prayer for a redeemer - someone to make it clear to Blacks that they were inferior to no one and could wield power and influence in the world as much as any one. Haile Selassie fulfilled that vision.

All that said, Bob's Spiritual home is all of creation - he was an enlightened being with enormous personal power - he did not live a flawless life anymore than many prophets and reluctant Messiah's. As to Rita, while she deserves great respect for her own accomplishments, she often seems to be operating on far more of a material plane than Bob ever did. She is living up to part of Marcus Garvey's message by wielding her power in the material world and if she has put any ideas out there about moving Bob, they are more a statement of her power than anything motivated by Spirit. Bob has a peaceful resting place in the land of his birth and there he should be allowed to remain.

One Love,
Ras John

Hope for the New Year!

Greetings to All,

Another year is about to end. It has been, as always, filled with good and bad which is of course all relative. Some think the fact that George Bush was re-elected was a good thing… others think is was a sad day for our planet. Reality and what’s good and evil is a matter of perspective and opinion – everything depends on point of view. Most of us are quite sure we are RIGHT (as in correct) in our opinions and that the world would be a better place if everyone else agreed with us. But, we can probably all accept that we are not always right about everything. If we believed that the quality of life on this planet and beyond out to a zillion other planets in the Universe was at the mercy of our decisions on a day to day basis, would we take more care with how we lived each day?

If you accept that every action causes a reaction, you will know that every action you take plays a part in creating your future, the future of those around you and the rest of creation. Some of us have been given great power to affect the world with our actions. Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha and lesser know Enlightened Spirits have lived lives that inspired massive transformations in consciousness – unfortunately although most would consider their messages Good, even Godly, their messages have often been subverted to evil purposes and good people have been lead to evil deeds that they were convinced were right, they may even believe they were divinely ordained. It’s all a matter of point of view.

Possibly, in the New Year, more of us can come to realize that we are each an integral part of a world community and that anything that diminishes or harms any of us hurts us all just as every kind word or act helps us all. Possibly we can realize that killing in the name of God is always an abomination, a total corruption of the messages of all of the enlightened beings that have lived among us. Possibly we can realize that while the ends can sometimes justify the means it is a dangerous path to follow and we will be required to pay for the mistakes we make. Every action we take will cause a reaction – we will be blessed as we bless others and we will suffer harm as we harm others – and that goes for all living things and our home, this Earth. It also does not matter whether we believe we are doing right or wrong – the Universe is non-judgmental BUT, there is perfect balance. The Love you get is equal to the Love you give.

Each day you have a chance for a new beginning – each day you can make the world a better place and even your smallest actions start a chain reaction that sends ripples throughout the world. May God bless you with the wisdom and insight to be a blessing to yourself and the world around you through the year ahead and beyond. Have a wonder-filled and Joyous New Year!

Make no mistake, Sizzla ain’t no Rasta, he’s an Imposta.

Have you heard of Sizzla? With such album titles as “Words of Truth” and “Rastafari Teach I Everything” you might think some words of wisdom and a righteous message would fill his music. Unfortunately, he has shown himself to be nothing more than an unenlightened thug. Here’s an excerpt from a London newspaper:

(London) A reggae performer whose music advocates killing gays says he has nothing to apologize for, instead claiming it is gays who must beg forgiveness. "They can't ask me to apologize," Sizzla told BBC radio on Thursday. "They've got to apologize to God because they break God's law." Sizzla, whose real name is Miguel Collins, is one of the largest selling reggae artists in the UK. His hit tune Pump Up has the line “Shot battybwoy, my big gun boom (Shoot queers, my big gun goes boom)”. He has consistently refused calls for an apology and continues to perform the song.

Make no mistake, Sizzla ain’t no Rasta, he’s an imposta.

Let’s get one thing straight - this is not about whether gays are breaking God’s Law or not - it is about another loser claiming God as his authority to promote a philosophy of hate. Sizzla is no different than a turd in the KKK or some neo-nazi. God will do a perfect job at dealing out rewards and penalties for breaking his Law. Anyone espousing a philosophy of hate needs to be rejected and condemned for the false message they carry. It is a shame – Sizzla has produced some great music but now we can only be embarrassed by him and regret that his ego has led him so far from righteousness.

Let's teach compassion to the world. Let's teach understanding. Let's teach Forgiveness - we should even forgive Sizzla for his lack of conciousness but we should never let it go unchallenged.

One Love,
Ras John

A Post at barbrastreisand.com

...Barbra Streisand
Posted on November 8, 2004

In response to the results of the Presidential election last week, I would like to share with you a quote from Thomas Jefferson. Although written in 1798, I feel his words speak perfectly to the strong sentiments of frustration and disappointment 48% of the country feel.

"A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public debt......If the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at stake."

The Sad State of American Politics

Bush won. Life must go on regardless of the challenges we are forced to deal with. This state of affairs just demands that we work even harder to protect our democracy and freedom because they are under attack. And for those that believe that flying planes into buildings or blowing themselves up will do any good are the biggest fools and dupes of all. George Bush would have still gone into Iraq without 9/11 but it helped him legitimize it. Like Pearl Harbor and the sinking of the Lusitania in previous times, the attack just gave the Bush government a blank check to do exactly what they wanted to anyway – wield a big stick and build their power base. That’s not to say a strict code of non-violence is the right course of action either – unfortunately we have not evolved as a species to the point where freedom and justice can be maintained without occasionally applying force. The danger comes from the threat being used to manipulate people well beyond any rational or responsible use of power. That is where we find ourselves again. John Kerry and millions around the United States stood up to fight this threat – maybe a more dangerous threat than that posed by any terrorist – and fear has won the day. We must not give up. Love conquerors fear. We must not sink in to despair, regret and anger. We must continue to fight for justice and personal freedom because they are under attack and that attack is not from outside, it is being waged from the White House.

REGGAE.com Sponsors Talking Computer Program to Endorse John Kerry for President

October 21, 2004 - REGGAE.com, one of the leading music websites on the Internet and a top Reggae Music location since 1995, has taken a political stance for the first time. The organization has a history of supporting environmental action groups and relief efforts around the world but has never endorsed a political candidate. This week marks a change in that policy with the endorsement of John Kerry for President of the United States.

A front page concert photo of Bob Marley and The Wailers at Madison Square Garden has been replaced with the statement “After four years of wrong choices by the Bush administration, if you are eligible, please vote for a change: VOTE FOR JOHN KERRY” and a link to the johnkerry.com wesite. A recent Reggae.com BLOG entry stated: “Reggae.com has never endorsed any political candidates but a change in the status quo is essential in the U.S. - we urge you to get registered and VOTE for John Kerry for the next President of The United States. To support the cause, REGGAE.com has sponsored a John Kerry for President Special Edition of the Cool C Interactive Speech Software™. A link to a FREE download for Windows XP users can be found on the main page of the site. Also, BE SURE TO GET OUT AND VOTE!

The free Cool C™ John Kerry for President Special Edition of Cool Conversations Interactive Talking Computer software was originally offer on c/net’s Download.com where several thousand copies were distributed. A reduced function demo version is currently available from Download.com but REGGAE.com has sponsored release of a full version of the basic edition of the Cool C program in this special configuration. The program works in conjunction with the Microsoft Speech Engine 5.1 which is included in Windows XP. Once installed, the Cool C talking computer program allows users to have conversations with their computers – in this case, they are able to learn about many of John Kerry’s position on issue from economics to the war in Iraq simply by asking a question. The program also comes with a second database filled with trivia, jokes and historical information to broaden the computers speaking capabilities. Users are also given the ability to make their own additions to the conversation database.

A statement issued by REGGAE.com indicated that they are sponsoring the distribution of the free John Kerry Special Edition in the hopes of attracting the interest (and votes) of individuals who have not previously been politically involved. With this unique interactive software users also get an exclusive “broadcast” delivery system. The Cool C program retrieves “broadcast” announcements taken from information distributed by organizations such as MoveOn.org and JohnKerry.com. These messages are delivered verbally by each of the computers running the Cool Conversations program. The program also includes a verbal “Reminder” system. REGGAE.com plans on distributing a version of the program that will actually speak some Jamaican Patois along with the American English used by the Special John Kerry Edition. “This is the future… Cool Conversations has demonstrated how far speech recognition has come and is clearly setting the standard for the future” said a REGGAE.com spokesperson. For more information, visit REGGAE.com or CoolConversations.com.

REGGAE.com Endorses John Kerry for President

Reggae.com has never endorsed any political candidates but a change in the status quo is essential in the U.S. - we urge you to get registered and VOTE for John Kerry for the next President of The United States. To support the cause, REGGAE.com has sponsored a “John Kerry for President” Special Edition of the Cool C Interactive Speech Software. A link to a FREE download for Windows XP users can be found on the main page of the site. NOTE: If you have a version of Cool C already installed on your computer, uninstall the existing version prior to installing the John Kerry Special Edition. Also, BE SURE TO GET OUT AND VOTE ! (unless you think you might vote for George Bush - in that case, well, hopefully you will examine the facts and make the right decision)


One Love,
Reggae Road Crew

George Soros On The Upcoming U.S. Elections

REGGAE.com has not previously taken any partisan position, having chosen to speak to all with a message of tolerance and love. We have made the decision to alter our previous course because we believe a change in Washington is crucial. The current administration has consistently spread half truths and worse to reinforce an arrogant self-righteous commandeering of the American system of values and liberties.

Published on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 by CommonDreams.org
Why We Must Not Re-elect President Bush
by George Soros
Prepared text of speech delivered September 28, 2004
National Press Club
Washington, DC,

This is the most important election of my lifetime. I have never been heavily involved in partisan politics but these are not normal times. President Bush is endangering our safety, hurting our vital interests and undermining American values. That is why I am sending you this message. I have been demonized by the Bush campaign but I hope you will give me a hearing.

President Bush ran on the platform of a "humble" foreign policy in 2000. If we re-elect him now, we endorse the Bush doctrine of preemptive action and the invasion of Iraq, and we will have to live with the consequences. As I shall try to show, we are facing a vicious circle of escalating violence with no end in sight. But if we repudiate the Bush policies at the polls, we shall have a better chance to regain the respect and support of the world and to break the vicious circle.

I grew up in Hungary, lived through fascism and the Holocaust, and then had a foretaste of communism. I learned at an early age how important it is what kind of government prevails. I chose America as my home because I value freedom and democracy, civil liberties and an open society.

When I had made more money than I needed for myself and my family, I set up a foundation to promote the values and principles of a free and open society. I started in South Africa in 1979 and established a foundation in my native country, Hungary, in 1984 when it was still under communist rule. China, Poland and the Soviet Union followed in 1987. After the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, I established foundations in practically all the countries of the former Soviet empire and later in other parts of the world and in the United States. These foundations today spend about 450 million dollars a year to promote democracy and open society around the world.

When George W. Bush was elected president, and particularly after September 11, I saw that the values and principles of open society needed to be defended at home. September 11 led to a suspension of the critical process so essential to a democracy - a full and fair discussion of the issues. President Bush silenced all criticism by calling it unpatriotic. When he said that "either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists," I heard alarm bells ringing. I am afraid that he is leading us in a very dangerous direction. We are losing the values that have made America great.

There is a lot more to be said on the subject and I have said it in my book, The Bubble of American Supremacy, now available in paperback. I hope you will read it. You can download the chapter on the Iraqi quagmire free from www.georgesoros.com

If you find my arguments worth considering, please share this message with your friends.

I would welcome your comments at georgesoros.com . I am eager to engage in a critical discussion because the stakes are so high.

The above has been shortened - please visit georgesoros.com for more. We encourage everyone to do some fact checking and research on your own... no President is going to make everyone happy all the time and make all the right decisions but we can sure do better than we have been doing during the last 4 years.

Jah Guide and Protect!
One Love,
Ras John

Visit www.REGGAE.com