Jamaica’s Buju Banton In Pilgrimage to West Africa
Though not his first time in the western region of Africa, Buju Banton’s proposed musical pilgrimage to Gambia and Sierra Leone is echoing with loud vigor. Youths in the streets of Gambia are already celebrating the anticipated peak sound party.
The Jamaican ‘cross-over’ queen, or rather ‘King’, arrived in the island last week. And allwoman has the exclusive on what she’s been up to since her last major performance here at Sumfest, some eight years ago.
Freddie McGregor – Not without honour
Few artistes can make a one-hour wait worthwhile, but after our marathon endurance (not his fault as it turned out) Freddie McGregor emerges as the kind of artiste that one could willingly allocate half the day to – and one who is equally willing to share from his insights, experiences, joys and rants amassed over the course of more than four decades as a performing and recording artiste.
In Jamaica, Gay Rights Now an Issue Worth Debating
A call by Deputy Education Minister Donald Rhodd to discuss the possible repeal of Victorian-era laws criminalizing homosexuality has provoked predictable outrage among conservative Jamaicans. But gays here see the chance for debate as a glimmer of hope that they may one day be able to move out from the shadows.
Criticized by Human Rights Watch a year ago for fostering a climate of violent homophobia, Jamaica lately has joined other Caribbean countries in taking steps toward acknowledging that discrimination and denial have proved counterproductive in efforts to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Jr. Gong and his rebel music catch fire
His father grew up in Jamaica’s shantytowns and impoverished countryside, but he was raised in a well-to-do neighborhood. Actually, two well-to-do neighborhoods: one in Jamaica and one in Miami.
So does Damian (Jr. Gong) Marley, the youngest son of Bob, have the right to sing about the ghettos and poverty of his native country?
The street was quiet, and only one bouncer at the door. It looked like the suburbs, not a music hall. But the address was right; the bouncer fit the part. “This must be the place,†I said.
We were at “Ska – Golpea la Ciudad (Hit the City),†a five-band all night Ska festival in Quinta Normal, just west of the center of Santiago. I had seen the posters all over the city for weeks, heard my Chilean friends talking about it, and, because I really like Ska, was pumped to check out this music scene here in Chile. I can honestly say I was surprised.
Reggae outfit Live Wyaa emerged on top at the recent Jamaican eliminations of the 2005 Global Battle of the Bands, at the BackYaad complex on Sunday night. The group will journey to London for the world finals on December 7 at the Astoria, where they will face national finalists from at least 23 other nations. The top prize in the Global Battle is US$100, 000 and a music tour of the other participating nations. C-Sharp took second place in the Jamaican final with Rootz Underground coming third.
Vintage party non-stop fun at Welly’s
It was non-stop fun at Welly’s Cool Spot on Friday 11 November where Winston ‘Merry Tone’ Blake – the king of oldies music selection – played songs from the 1960s to early 1990s.
It was like reliving a piece of Jamaica from back when reggae- rock steady ruled the dancehalls and dancehall music was a collection of genres.
“It hard to find any person at a Skatalites concert who isn’t moving some part of their body, whether they’re 5 or 85 years old,” according to Ken Stewart, the band’s keyboard player and manager. Stewart is speaking via phone from the UK, where the group was taking a rare break from its vigorous 2005 European tour. He still marvels at ska’s enduring appeal since it became Jamaica’s first commercial musical form. “What’s amazing to me is that young kids will come out and see an instrumental [ska] group,” Stewart says. “To see 12-year-old kids going out to hear something like this rather than Britney Spears is great.”
Rootsy reggae returns to Boston on Saturday in the shape of Axe and Cleaver favourites Rebelation.
The 10-piece outfit, based at Kings Lynn, have built a big national following over the past decade for their smooth brand of authentic ska, 2-Tone and reggae.
