Island Stage Magazine January 2014 by Susan IslandStage Underwood

January 2014 - Issue 01

Christopher Ellis Better Than Love

Wayne Marshall Tru Colors

Alerta Kamarada Colombiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Premier Reggae Band

Kehv Prince of Reggae Soul

Magazine

Protoje Here Comes the Rasta Youth

Island Stage Magazine Reggae Revival Rising Stars

Introduction

Island Stage Magazine is a new quarterly publication highlighting the “Way Makers”, The “Revolutionaries”. We will focus on the Music, as well as the Rising Stars from all walks of life creating positive change in our world. Island Stage is committed to inspire it’s readers with uplifting and rich content. We will also provide you with provocative articles and interviews that are sure to spark creative ideas for a forward thinking generation. - Susan Underwood , Editor & Publisher

Magazine

cover photo: Sista Irie Photography

VICE PRESIDENT, DESIGN & BRAND Zoey Corbeil MARKETING MANAGER Rochelle Lindsay COMMUNICATION MANAGER T.L. Underwood COMMUNICATION COORDINATOR, Gary Underwood SENIOR MARKETING SPECIALIST, Alyssa Corbeil EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Susan Underwood / Nico DaSilva ART DIRECTOR Aiden Underwood EDITOR AND PROJECTS MANAGER Lorien Benavides

CONTRIBUTORS Lloyd Stanbury, Michael Kuelker, Maliika Walker, Sista Irie, Elboya Cruz SENIOR PROJECTS EDITOR Autumn Corbeil PROJECTS COORDINATOR Brenda Mora ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Mary Jalbert SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lauren Wakefield PHOTO COORDINATOR Kyle Barham COPY EDITORS Steven Corbeil PRODUCTION MANAGER Trudy Underwood PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS Louis Underwood

Musically Speaking........................................................................................05-06 Lloyd Stanbury Editorial-The Future of Jamaican Reggae Music The Dutty Truth............................................................................................... 9-12 Sista Irie & Dutty Bookman discuss Reggae Revival in depth

CONTENTS

VICE PRESIDENT, ADVERTISING, Susan Underwood

Protoje..................................................................................................................14-18 The music and the message. A conversation Christopher Ellis..............................................................................................21-22 Better Than Love Wayne Marshall...............................................................................................23 His Tru Colors

Alerta Kamarada..............................................................................................24-25 Reggae Colombia! Kehv.......................................................................................................................26-27 The Prince of Reggae Soul Solar Buzz...........................................................................................................28-29 Jamaica Going Green Could YOU Be Loved....................................................................................31-33 Michael Kuelker reviews Ras Tekla Mekfet’s upcoming book Bob Marley- The Making of a Legend.................................................35-37 Maliika Walker speaks with Esther Anderson- Bob Marley- The Wailers & the documentary 12 Years a Slave................................................................................................38-40 The Movie Review and a reflection by Maliika Walker

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Island Stage Magazine Reggae Revival Rising Stars

“Greetings, and let me take this opportunity to congratulate the Island Stage team on the successful launch of this quarterly magazine designed to highlight and discuss Caribbean lifestyle and cultural issues. I look forward to making regular contributions to the magazine, and sharing in discussions with you from time to time. This, my first piece, is my take on the future of Jamaican Reggae music”.

Musically Speaking

- Lloyd Stanbury Entertainment Attorney and Music Business Consultant

The Future of Jamaican Reggae Music A

ccording to the 2013 Digital Music Report published by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), digital revenues are driving the recorded music industry towards recovery. For the first time since 1999 annual global recorded music revenues grew. Between 2011 and 2012 the IFPI data records a 0.3 per cent increase, which has been credited to downloads, subscriptions and other digital channels. http://www.ifpi.org/content/ section_resources/dmr2013.html This is indeed welcomed news for the global music industry; but what does it mean in the context of Jamaican Reggae music?

he reports I have read, and the information coming to me from credible industry sources would suggest that

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while the global recorded music industry experienced growth for the first time in 13 years in 2012, in that same year Jamaican Reggae music sales in America fell to its lowest level ever in over 20 years. http:// www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/ J-can-music-sales-plummet-in-US There are many explanations offered as to why Jamaican recorded music sales and live concert revenues have fallen in recent years, while other music genres and non-JamaicanReggae have experienced growth. Some explanations include, the backlash from the pro-gay community to the promotion of violence against gays by certain Jamaican Dancehall artists, the association of a number of prominent Jamaican artists with criminal activities, and the unprofessionalism of Jamaican artists,

artist managers, and event promoters who operate internationally.

jamaican-reggaes-next-big-thing-chrisblackwell-diplo Is Chris Blackwell right?

ut, all is not lost by any means as far as the future of Jamaican Reggae is concerned. There are some very positive signs of the emergence and imminent arrival of a new “golden age” of Jamaican music. In December 2008 Chris Blackwell was quoted as saying that “the golden years of Jamaican music was behind us”. https:// www.facebook.com/notes/lloyd-stanbury/ is-chris-blackwell-right/132518825354 Five years later in a Billboard magazine article of September 2013, Blackwell is quoted as saying that the then 20-year old Jamaican artist Chronixx was Jamaican Reggae’s next big thing. http://www.billboard.com/biz/ articles/news/global/5733093/is-chronixx-

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ver the past five years there has been a very promising development in Jamaica within the arts and culture sector, which is now being described as the Reggae Revival movement. It has been fueled by the creative, technical, and administrative efforts of a group of young musicians, literary, and visual artists and their colleagues who provide support services. A significant number of the artists involved are graduates of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston. The creative output of this group of artists is characterized by a renewed awareness about Africa and Rastafari. Many of the artists involved also collaborate and

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Island Stage Magazine Reggae Revival Rising Stars

ii Participate in as many educational workshops and music conferences as

support each other in the production and presentation of their works. A veritable army of new Roots Reggae artists have emerged from this group, and they have now attracted the attention of the international media, concert promoters, and music fans. The list is long, but it includes Chronixx, Protoje, Jah-9, Kabaka Pyramid, Iba Mahr, Jesse Royal, Kelissa, Dre Island, Raging Fyah, and Pentateuch. The impact of their music is being felt globally, particularly throughout Europe. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130905/ent/ent1. html

possible.

ii Support the formation, development and sustainability of relevant music associations by becoming members and remaining active.

n closing I would like to say that after over thirty years involvement in the Reggae music industry, I have witnessed many good and bad years. I am however very excited at present, as well as relieved and hopeful about the future of Jamaican Reggae. I sincerely hope that Reggae fans worldwide will come together to further support the changes already taking place to enable the rebirth of a vibrant global Reggae music industry.

he Reggae Revival movement is a welcomed positive sign of the renewed popularity of Roots Reggae inside Jamaica. The comradery and unity displayed by the artists involved, and the fact that they are more educated than the typical Reggae/Dancehall artist coming out of Jamaica, also auger well for the future of Jamaican Reggae. The continued growth and sustainability of the Reggae Revival movement will however be dependent on a number of factors, some within the control of the “Revivalists” and some that are outside their control. Continued support for the artists in the “Movement” is necessary, especially with regard to their efforts to maintain unity and focus on lyrical content with wide global appeal. The “Revivalist” artists and their representatives will also need to forge better links and working relationships with older and more experienced artists and music business managers, as they learn to cope with the complexities of the business of music.

ONE LOVE

here has been a lot of talk inside Jamaica about creative industries development, and more specifically development of the local music industry. While there has been some positive movement in recent years, there are still some major barriers, such as the disunity among older industry players, media corruption, and ignorance in government as well as within the industry. As we move forward as artists, as well as technical and management service providers within the Jamaican Reggae music fraternity, I would like to suggest the following basic “Best Practices” that could serve us well: ii Always remember that music business starts with the creation of music, and

that music creation is an art that is subject to standards and the adherence to certain recognized concepts.

ii As an artist (songwriter, vocalist, musician, or music producer, you should

ensure that you learn as much as you can about issues related to copyrights and contracts, and secure management representation from persons with knowledge of how the business of music works.

ii Learn about, explore and utilize digital and Internet technology, including online

social media.

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Island Stage Magazine

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Reggae Revival Rising Stars

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I ignore the fashion industry; I know that my ancestors reached creative heights through intuition and natural skill. I use the knowledge in my spirit to bring forth my creations. Ction can go here... Issue 01 January 2014

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Island Stage Magazine Reggae Revival Rising Stars

The Dutty Truth article and photos by Sista Irie

his story has no beginning and no end. It’s about revelation, revolution and renewing purpose. Emerging truths reveal themselves throughout life, and yet, many are called, few are chosen. Every person is confronted with life changing messages-some may even rail against cultural upbringing or traditional education. At the same time, many are too busy or too distracted to process and recognize the vision within. In my generation, the mantra, “Question Authority” ignited a generation of rebellious youth resulting in awareness of human rights, environmental concern and the absurdity of war. These revelations identified conscious individuals who fully recognized and implemented a need for improved freedom of consciousness, reversing former beliefs and opening new roads of critical thought.

utty Bookman, in his book, “Tried and True” reveals a personal coming of age. Dutty, whose birth name is Gavin Hutchison was born in 1982 and hails from Kingston, Jamaica. Although born into a lower class neighborhood, his quick minded intelligence allowed him to attend one of the best high schools in Kingston, Jamaica and later resulted in studies of Aerospace Engineering in Central Florida. However, like many young, intelligent, students, Dutty realized he had adopted a

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on youth empowerment via arts and culture), invited Dutty to attend and speak at their conference. This experience eventually ignited the creation of Manifesto Jamaica whose mission is to educate, expose and empower photo: EYEANDEYEVISIONS young people from all economic classes. Manifesto reggae music infused with crucial messages Jamaica impassions youth to pursue creative and sophisticated high quality production. skills, increase personal confidence and to Dutty makes a crucial point explaining the professionally develop in a manner that Reggae Revival is synonymous with Rasta promotes economic fulfillment. Dutty was Revival. Reggae needed Rasta and Rasta so inspired by the deep sense of unity and needed Reggae. And yet, the Reggae Revival spirit of love felt at Manifesto/Canada, he committed to serving Jamaican youth through could well be a stepping stone to something bigger and deeper. The Reggae Revival is a the encouragement of creative arts and lifelong opportunity to help culture. Many members people evolve spiritually and of the currently growing professionally. Dutty predicts artistic movement in Jamaica 2014 will additionally focus known as the Reggae Revival the Revival on the works came from synchronicity of visual artists. The Rasta and alignment with the Revivalists came forward Manifesto experience. as musicians, singers, he Reggae Revival graphic artists, publicists, began as a collective administrators, soundsystem group of artists uniting to djs, photographers, bring consciousness once videographers and other again into the forefront artists supporting the of Jamaican society. This movement with poignant tightknit community of and unique skills. Critical to Sista Irie Photography. artists successfully sparked the movement, the Reggae a rebirth of conscious Revival infuses Rastafarian

youthful arrogance that was working against him. At the same time, he experienced a growing empathy for the youth of Jamaica and redirected his efforts to serve them by returning to Jamaica. Dutty was determined to inspire positive change in a misguided system now wallowing in violence and death. Establishing a youth talk show on national radio and working with Rita Marley on the Africa Unite Youth Symposium, Dutty observed the growing plight of black males and the societal effects of the disenfranchised. These observations reinforced his personal negative experiences

Reggae Revival cannot be restricted to only music. within the Babylon employment system. Dutty rebelled against Jamaican employers who treated their employees with disrespect and unreasonable punity. These practices did not allow youth to grow and prosper, so he set out to find more impactful ways to earn a living and promote change.

ne day while speaking at the Africa Unite Youth Symposium, Dutty quickly realized his intellectual and spiritual influences. A member of Manifesto Community Projects (a Canadian social activist organization focused

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Island Stage Magazine Reggae Revival Rising Stars

theology into their art forms aimed to increase knowledge and overstanding regarding the life and teachings of HIM, Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. Dutty emphasizes the world could be cured from societal degradation through the teachings of HIS Majesty. The Revival will jumpstart a conscious awareness needed to improve the state of the world. As a result, afrocentric roots integrated into Caribbean culture, merges into rare and moving synchronicities of sound and visions. The rebirth of spiritual Rasta philosophies are supported by highly developed artistic representations.

“Tried and True” is a sincere, heartfelt autobiography revealing your personal evolution as a youth abiding within traditional Babylonian systems. Through real and mystical experiences you evolved intellectually and spiritually. Why was it important for you to write the book? In a dream I had, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I appeared vividly to me and HIM showed me that I was important to HIM and the continuation of his works. It was a turning point in my life and I wrote it in my journal at the time. One day, I was reading through my journals for no particular reason and I noticed that they showed a telling trajectory of my maturity. At that point, I decided that I would publish a book about this significant period or transition in order to show people just how powerful we can be with purpose and focus.

he Reggae Revival is not a list of members, it includes anyone who supports the mission. As a result, the Revival will create an unyielding penetration that cannot be undermined by lack of government and other industry support. The movement will define a new peaceful revolutionary environment aiming to reverse deeply rooted trends that resulted in negative life choices. The Reggae Revival, in synchronicity with Manifesto/ Jamaica, will educate, inspire, guide, support and encourage underserved youth through structured activities, workshops, mini-festivals, Town Halls, and music festivals. The combined movements are designed to educate and empower the youth and revive a vibrant and talented society.

In your book and interviews, you refer to important mentors including HIM -Haile Selassie I, Che Guevara, and the original Dutty Boukman. What common qualities and activities do these three iconic legends share and how do they apply to the Reggae Revival? What was their primary influence on the person you are today? I love public relations and I believe that one’s personal legend is the ultimate publicity act. When people look back on a person’s life, they draw conclusions that affect how useful your memory will be to the continuation of revolution. These three persons you have named, they are among those who epitomize this kind of legacy. Che Guevara is the one I came across first. I was very impressed by his personal writings. He was the one that made me realize the importance of keeping a journal as a truthful record of my thoughts in the continuum of time and space. Haile Selassie I is the ultimate public relations practitioner. How he travelled through Creation and made western media work in his favor, if you really examine that, was absolutely genius. Boukman’s fate was quite the opposite. He was virtually unknown outside of Haiti for his iconic contributions to the Haitian Revolution but, because of his genuine intentions and his resolve to inspire freedom, his name could not be forgotten. These three men have inspired me for other reasons too but, since you asked me for the common thread, I have to say that it is the way they have influenced the way I practice public relations.

utty Bookman recently reached another spiritual crossroad. Feeling disillusioned with the current state of chaos inherent in Jamaica, Dutty joined a nurturing and loving community of Rastafarians in the Washington DC area. Having been advised through a mystical dream by Haile Selassie to carry on HIS teachings, Dutty’s convictions further grew to serve His Majesty within his environment. He has not given up on serving Jamaican youth. He will further the works through the Washington Rasta community that has a global, international focus and promotes projects such as medical support for the elders and building schools in Shashamane, Ethiopia. Many belong to the Iniversal Development of Rastafari (I.D.O.R) whose mission brings forward the intellectual and compassionate tenants of Rastafari.

“

He who would be a leader must pay the price in self-discipline and moral restraint. This entails the correction and improvement of personal character, the checking of passions and desires, and an exemplary control of one’s bodily needs and drives. Leaders have to submit themselves to a stricter self-discipline and develop a more exemplary moral character than is expected of others. To be first in place, one must be first in merit as well”. (H.I.M. July 14, 1961)

Many Jamaicans (including youths) seem to have a negative perspective regarding the role of Government in the development of the Arts and in particular the music industry. What are your views?

or now, Dutty Bookman, author, Revivalist and Spiritual Revolutionary, is joyous and fulfilled working in unity alongside the Washington DC Rastafarian family. It is this Unity of Purpose that propels Dutty to live, learn and document his life experiences and reflections, so that others may catch a fire and find the spiritual path that leads to a life of integrity, balance and positive mentorship.

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I read somewhere that an African politician – I forgot which country she was from – said that government has no business interfering in the arts. I agreed with her immediately. The true artist is meant to unlock his or her inner potential and manifesting his or her power. The only thing a government should do is give artists PAGE

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Island Stage Magazine Reggae Revival Rising Stars

the space and time to do so. The way an entire nation is run affects the artists. Run the country properly and the arts will flourish.

The active youth already know what to do. Through Manifesto Jamaica I have watched a devoted group of young thinkers in the creative industries rise to every occasion with intuitive thinking and collaborative effort. The only obstacles encountered have been related to money and ignorance. If the government people simply provide adequate funding for their initiatives, and then step completely out of the way, some glorious things will begin to occur.

You say the mindset of people running ‘the system’ left a massive spiritual gap in the reggae music industry and a gross impact on society. How do you see the Reggae Revival impacting an ongoing change that will diminish the influence of people in high places, who are more interested in making money or sustaining their own positions than supporting a more positive form of music that may result in long term economic stability, as well as a rebirth of consciousness in the arts? The Reggae Revival is about bringing revolutionary thinking to the forefront again. All over the world there is this spiritual void. So the youth of today are doing all kinds of things to address various symptoms in the global sociopolitical, economic system. There is the Arab Spring in the Middle East. There is the Occupy Movement in North America. Now we have a Reggae Revival in Jamaica. They all started within and primarily for a certain locality but each have spoken to the broader generation of young adults in the world today. A fundamental difference with the Reggae Revival is that it is arts-based and therefore more peaceful. Arab Spring and Occupy Movement both relied on confrontation in the physical space. They are against whichever political leaders or whichever materially wealthy people they oppose. I applaud both of these movements because they identified their problems, their enemies and devised solutions with which to act. When you look at Jamaica, a mere dot on the globe, and consider its history, you see that our greatest weapon is the creative prowess of our people. And you also see that whenever we sharpen that weapon with the teachings of Rastafari, our enemies begin to scramble to curtail that movement. Our enemies of course are those keeping up spiritual wickedness in high and low places. So the Reggae Revival is supposed to be cutting off those enemies’ energies, as Protoje sings in that song with Kabaka Pyramid. Through attacking the spiritually bankrupt, we, in our own way, are disrupting the very source of all these symptomatic ills that we see physically in the world, which the warriors of the Arab Spring and Occupy Movement are dutifully addressing in their own way. This is why the Reggae Revival cannot be restricted to only music. Reggae is a culture and this culture goes hand in hand with Rastafari. Any creative works through which the true teachings of His Imperial Majesty get communicated to people is Reggae Revival to me. That goes for visual art, culinary art, literary art, performing art or whatever. Go to a Nyabinghi ises and see the real source of Reggae.

What can we expect from your next book due to be released in February 2014? Will it be a review of Reggae Revival history and/or will it include an honest assessment of the future based on successes and barriers? As it stands now, the book will probably not be ready for publication by that time. Initially, I was rushing it because I thought a book would help people to recognize the movement’s existence. After the summer though, with all the media attention and even my own trip to Rototom Sunsplash to speak at the Reggae University, I realized that the book was no longer as urgent. Now I am approaching it more carefully. It will combine my perspective on the early history of the Revival with some striking images taken by top photographers within the movement. Apart from that, I am going with a less-is-more approach. There are too many tangents that I can go on so I decided to be very basic so that as many people as possible can overstand what is happening. After that, I will explore which aspects of the Revival need to be exposed along the way. These things need careful consideration because, remember, this is revolution happening. Everything requires careful timing. What is your most treasured self-accomplishment? My most treasured self-accomplishment, as you put it, is in the future. I am most proud of the complete fall of Babylon that is about to happen because I know that His Imperial Majesty has used me as an instrument for this purpose. I am proud that I have kept an open mind and an open heart to carry out the will of Jah.

What will it take in your opinion to develop a creative arts industry that results in economic stability and growth?

http://duttyism.com/ http://reggae-revival.com/

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Protoje- SummerJam 2013 photo by Sista Irie Protoje @ SummerJam 2013 photo by Sista Irie

Island Stage Magazine Reggae Revival Rising Stars

Protoje By Susan Underwood

Photos by Sista Irie

first became familiar with Protoje’s music with his 2011 EP release of ‘The Seven Year Itch’. Never hearing the term ‘Reggae Revival’, and immediately upon hearing the EP, I felt “revived” and excited about what I was witnessing. There was something different and special about him, and I wanted to learn more. Protoje was born Oje Ken Ollivierre in1981 into a musical family. His mother, Lorna Bennett, is an Attorney-at-law and reggae icon, best known for the 1972 hit, ‘Breakfast in Bed.’ His father, Michael Ollivierre, also known as Lord Have Mercy, is a notably successful athletics coach and former Calypso King in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Born and raised in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica, young Protoje attended the Santa Cruz

Issue 01 January 2014

Preparatory School before moving on to the prestigious Munro College, where he demonstrated more than a marginal interest in music. It was not long before he helped to spearhead the Vendetta Sound System, cooperating with the likes of his cousin, Donovan “Don Corleone” Bennett, who is now a regular charttopping producer.

melodies to hardhitting lyrical barrages, Protoje recites life as he experiences it, not as he imagines it. Not just a mere musician but a student of music, Protoje’s dedication to his craft will place him among history’s most

With spot on phrasing, hooks and lyrical genius, Protoje is a force to be reckoned with not only in the Reggae scene, but in the International pop scene. I will not get into album reviews here. Instead, I wanted to have a conversation with Protoje, so that ‘we’ can get to know him better. Go purchase the music and listen..... really listen. Watch the music videos. You will be glad you did!

prolific artists. With the 2013 release of ‘The 8 Year Affair’, I was completely hooked. Dare I say that I am reminded of Tuff Gong back in the day; for many reasons. I hesitated to mention this to a friend , but as it turns out, many are also expressing the same sentiments.

Coming from such a talented family, and especially being exposed to his parents’ era of music, it is no surprise that Protoje is rising to prominence in his own time. From silky PAGE

In 2013, Protoje completed two successful European tours and is gearing up for 2014 which will also include parts of North America. Get ready! You won’t want to miss Protoje when he comes to your town! Here is our conversation.......... www.island-stage.com

Island Stage Magazine Reggae Revival Rising Stars

Thank you for spending some time with us. Let’s get right to it. Tell us about Reggae Revival. What is it and what does it mean to you both personally and professionally? Also, what comes to mind when you hear this term (REVIVAL) with regards to your music? Do you feel there is a reggae revival in reggae music right now or do you feel it was always present, just not promoted to the public?

recognition and is spreading far. The song is one of my favorites because I wrote this song on the day as you said, and the words in the verse of this song are really something that I want people to pay attention to. Kingston Be Wise is very special to me. I just remember music having a potency and telling a story and this was a song that I really wanted to apply that way and make sure that, you know, the essence of what was happening at the time was captured in the song. It’s crazy because the first time I got into dub music, I was a youth playing one of the early Grand Theft Autos. There was a station dedicated to Scientist, he had about 5 Songs on it and I was just listening to that all the time, and then I was like “no, Scientist? let me research who this is.” I found out about him which led me to King Tubby which led me to Mad Professor and Jah Shakka and opened up that heavy dub music that you hear me doing now. You know it is almost a direct line to the sound that I have right now, so it’s crazy how it has just turned right back around.

Reggae music is always present from Inception. It will always be present. Reggae music is a spirit music and people, as long as there is life then there is going to be that spirit. The term that has been used; The Revival; what I do see is that there is a resurgence of the music in Jamaica. There are a lot of youths singing with positive messages, singing reggae music with a certain vibration, whereas a couple of years ago that was not at the forefront. Right now the music is being reenergized and that is there for everybody to see. The term “Revival” is just a term, a word that may mean different things to different people but I see it as a positive movement in the right direction and at the end of the day as long as people are talking about reggae music, then I am happy with that.

One of our favorites from you, JA, you talk about the side of Jamaica tourists do not see. You state that no one will love JA like you do. What is the one thing you want your fans to know about the place you call home.

You had great influence in music as a youth from both your mother and with your father. Who else influenced you? In your Dread music video, I caught a Buju Banton poster on your wall as a child, so I am gonna bet that “Gargamel” influenced you some. Tell us who you listened to and how it influences your musical style today.

Jamaica has gone through so many struggles and always finds a way to maintain that energy that it pushes out to the world. Jamaica is so influential over the world for such a small country, it’s unbelievable. Jamaican people really suffer and that’s a thing growing up in Jamaica, no matter where you grow up. Whether uptown, downtown, country, wherever, you are affected by it. You understand? Your’e affected by it, through all strata. I’m a country youth, so I’m used to a simpler Jamaica. A free Jamaica where you run up and down as a little youth and your neighbor and them people look out for you and take care of you. This Jamaica whe mi see right now, mi nuh really too use to it cause it’s like, you nuh, that culture is being lost and that’s a thing with Jamaica, I have to do my part to maintain that energy de.

Buju Banton was an influence of mine yes for sure. Black Uhuru, Ini Kamoze. I say that because I listened to a lot of different music at different times, but this music had a profound impact on the way I do music. There are nuff people and nuff styles that I have learned from and I have studied, but I always wanted to sound like Black Uhuru on stage. I also wanted to sound like Sly & Robbie on stage. I’ve watched them countless of times and always wanted to sound like that, so it was very impactful on me. Then there is Ini Kamoze, how he sounds on records was just amazing to me, so you find that it influenced me a whole lot. As a little youth now hearing Buju Banton DJ, you nuh as a little youth you just wanted to Dj like Buju, that a whe you do you, just practice Buju. So nuff people have influenced how I sound but these three were very impactful from early till now.

Let’s discuss the current debate in the US on Marijuana laws, your thoughts on the progress in legalizing as it relates to the track “This is not a Marijuana Song.” Let’s also discuss the Marijuana laws in JA. Most people are totally shocked to find out that people go to jail fi di herbs in JA

We read that the Tivoli Gardens Massacre of 2010 inspired you to write your song, Kingston Be Wise. What is the most important message you want the audience to receive from such a powerful song? Also, Congrats on the deal with Grand Theft Auto V and having “KBW” selected! How do you think the “gamers” will receive the message in the music?

Marijuana fi legalize because Marijuana is a plant. It’s ridiculous. Separate and apart from medicinal use, we’re talking about the industries to be gained from this plant in various ways. On top of that we know the reasons why Marijuana is not legal. We do see some progress and we see that it’s getting legalized and I wish Jamaica woulda get with the program because there is nuff benefits the

Well the message in the music is there and repetition is a thing to that allows messages to seep through so we are glad that the song is getting a lot of Issue 01 January 2014

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country can gain by legalizing it. Jamaica is a country that is hypocritical about Ganga because nuff of the people who are responsible for it being illegal are users. Too many people smoke Ganga under the quiet and don’t want to admit it. If people that hold these positions in Jamaica who smoke herb come out and identify with it, it would change the perception that it’s just a certain set of people. I think also that keeping the use of Ganga illegal is also a way to oppress the youth them. So you know you can always find a spliff pon a Rasta youth, in fact on most any of the youths dem, so it’s a way to keep them under control. Our country may not even want to give up that control that it has over people now because now when you stop a man, him know say herb legal, whe you a go really harass him for. It’s a thing whe run deep still but it can’t stay illegal for ever. Sooner or later, it haffi be legal.

We do not believe reggae music ever died. We believe reggae music is a life force that carries with it a powerful vibration that has the capability to save and change lives. How do you feel about the power of reggae music and it’s potential influence on today’s youth?

Who or what experience inspired you to embrace the Rasta way of life?

What inspired you to write ‘I & I’? That is one of our favorites from your recent album, The 8 Year Affair. What was your creative process with regards to that song?

Reggae music influence is a huge thing because we see what it has done in the world already. There is evidence in our lifetime what reggae music is capable of doing and is doing. So we find that the music, the frequency, the vibration whe it even move at is a thing that open up your heart and once somebody heart open up then real difference can be made. Is a real medium by which to effect change and you find that if you accept it, just to know that the message is coming from, it’s not really you but you finding it somewhere out there and giving it to the people, it’s something that I take pride in.

What really guided to me to Rastafari was Walter Rodney. I started to read his books and you know he connected me to Marcus Garvey, the whole thing was just a full circle that guided me to His Imperial Majesty. That’s how the journey really started for me. At the same time we were linking with Uprising Roots Band who has a camp there and the drummer Black Kush is like a teacher and Jah9 and I used to go around there all the time and hold a vibes and energy and it just sync, everything sync at one time.

That song, I heard that Ryhthym and I knew immediately that, you know what? I’m going show a different side of my style because people don’t really hear mi DJ like what I did on I&I, but that’s something that I grew up doing, I really grew up loving that flow. So I was like, alright I’m going to approach this different; start the album totally different. I just went in, that was just me having fun, you know, and having fun stylistically but still making sure the message was a potent one and just saying, alright, we de ya again, I & I a pass through, second album, let’s go, yu nuh.

Haile Sellasie I was quoted as saying the following, “Outside the kingdom of the Lord there is no nation which is greater than any other. God and history will remember your judgment.” What comes to mind when you hear this quote?

You recently did another European tour. Tell us about that. How did the people receive you?

What I have taken from His Majesty and his message is the importance of the equality of man, irregardless of Race, Nationality and Religion. No man should hold dominion over another and that is the philosophy that I try to live by.

Well I toured Europe twice this year. There was the Summer tour which lasted 7 weeks and the Fall edition over a 6 week period. I got to tour with my band The Indiggnation, and I give thanks for the acceptance for the music and the energy and appreciation meted out to us on the journey. Night after night we gave of our best and the audience responded positively. That’s all we could really ask for.

Haile Selassie I was also quoted as saying the following, “Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.” What comes to mind when you hear this quote?

Let’s talk about the American vs European market with regards to Reggae Music. What differences do you see?

Just not doing wrong is never enough. When opportunities present themselves for action on the side of what is right, one should seize the moment to make a difference and create change that can have positive impact on the lives of people.

Issue 01 January 2014

I can speak only of the West Coast of the USA since that’s the only area that I have toured thus far. Major differences lie with the amount of people attending the events. In Europe I perform before a larger crowd and and there are more Reggae festivals in Europe than in the USA. Audiences in both markets are knowledgeable and show a real love and appreciation for the music. PAGE

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If you could name any artist you would like to collaborate with, past or present, who would it be and why? Ini Kamoze since I have patterned so much of my style from him and I have great respect his craft. Zion vs. Babylon. How would you define Zion vs. Babylon? Zion = Righteousness and Integrity. Babylon = lies, deception and inequality. Rastafari is? LOVE If you could only give the youth one message, what would that be? Surround yourself with positive energy. Educate yourself by reading widely and take a stand on issues that affect society in order to try to create change. Stay true to yourself and stay in your lane. The reward is knowing that you have done the best you can do and not just striving to satisfy the expectations of others. What is your vision of a perfect society? One where love encompasses all. What advice would you give to someone who is aspiring to get into the music industry? Analyze your career path and formulate your goals and keep site of that goal. Do not be distracted and stay true to yourself as an artiste and as an individual. Carefully strategize and study all aspects of the industry remembering that dedication and professionalism is of major importance.

http://protoje.com/ https://www.facebook.com/protoje https://twitter.com/Protoje Photo by Sista Irie @ SummerJam 2013 Issue 01 January 2014

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Marley Coffee “Wake Up & LIVE” http://www.marleycoffee.com/

ob Marley always said he would return to farming one day. With Marley Coffee, Bob’s son Rohan fulfills the dream. Rohan remembers his grandmother drying their wild coffee berries in the sun, then hulling and roasting them for her own cup of coffee each morning. Marley Coffee is determined to deliver that same intoxicating aroma and rich smooth flavor into every cup. Marley Coffee is an international gourmet coffee company founded by Rohan Marley, sourcing beans from around the world, including Ethiopia, Central America and Jamaica.

The beans from Jamaica are from a 52-acre private estate sits atop the Blue Mountains in Chepstowe, Portland, Jamaica, long revered as the region with the world’s most desirable coffee beans. From the Marley’s Jamaica Blue Mountain® coffee farm, to partner farms in Africa, Central America and other top coffee-growing regions worldwide, Marley Coffee strives to support communities and the environment through organic, sustainable and ethical practices.

“In this great future, you can’t forget your past” - Bob Marley Issue 01 January 2014

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Getting to Know Christopher Ellis By Maliika Walker

hristopher Ellis is the youngest son of reggae, rock-steady pioneer, Alton Ellis. Christopher has been singing since an early age as part of his father’s concerts. His debut EP, “Better than Love”, was released by Ghetto Youth’s International on November 19, 2013. The EP starts off with taking the listener on a “Rolling Coaster”, a ska flavored tune. The vocals on the tune draw you in to listen closer to the lyrics as Ellis tells his audience, “if you can’t be good please be careful”. “Left Unsaid” is a personal favorite from the EP release because it has an ‘old soul’ feel to it. The audience is taken on a nostalgic trip when music told a story. Damian Marley’s production on the entire EP is superb but this song is a stand out for me. I love the concept of the song and the vocal delivery, “so many things left unsaid”. Listening to the title track, “Better than Love” drew me to picture myself cuddled up with my special someone on a beach far far away. That is why some people use music, as an escape from everyday life. I got a fulfilling and satisfying escape trip while listening to the EP. If you are looking for a fresh yet classic voice in today’s musical landscape look no further. Christopher Ellis embodies the talent that can draw in audiences for years to come. The “Better than Love” EP can be found across all digital platforms includes iTunes, Amazon MP3, and Google Play. Treat your ears today to some beautiful music from a talented new artist. For Christopher Ellis, delivering great music for your soul is all in the genes. You will not be disappointed.

I asked Christopher who he would name as the greatest influence on his life and why? Besides his father, not just as an artist but someone who impacted him the most as a person.

Island Stage recently had the opportunity to speak with Christopher Ellis while in NYC promoting his new release. We had alot to ask him and started by asking if he had a standout or favorite performance by his father. He responded by telling us that there are a few.

My mom and not just because she’s my mom. She molded me as a person. I have to say that I had best upbringing a child could have in every way. My mother provided for me. The way she carried herself as a woman. I never heard her say the F word or anything like that. Sometimes I forget that she is imperfect. She believes in God and very biblical. Sometimes I forget she is just human because she lives such a clean life but she influenced me the most as a person.

I was on stage with him at a few places. We toured a lot together. All the shows are special to me. If I had to pick a show it would be the last show where he wasn’t so able. That show stands out to me not for any particular good reason but that show is distinctive to me because he became ill and could not continue to sing for the audience and I had to come out and finish the show. That performance is on YouTube so people can check it out. That show took place at the Jazz Café in London and I did a show there two months ago which sold out.”

I was introduced to your voice by your rendition of your father’s classic, “Willow Tree”. I still get chills whenever I hear your rendition of your father’s classic. What was it like for you to record one of your father’s classics for a new generation of listeners? To be honest with you Maliika I did not want to record that song. I really wanted to write new music but Stephen Marley wanted me to do this song so I agreed with him in the end. I am glad I did because I love the way it sounds.

I mentioned that I remember seeing the posts on Twitter and commenting to a friend that I wish the show was the in the U.S. because I would love to see him Live on stage. Christopher resides in London, and gets a lot of support there, but he says that he would love to perform at a venue such as SOB’s in NYC. I just saw him there a few months ago as part of the Ghetto Youth’s showcase. Issue 01 January 2014

That song is a great introduction to you. It left me wanting to hear what you have to offer as an artist in your own right, not just as Alton Ellis son. PAGE

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Thank you Maliika. The way you do that is not recording a lot of remakes. “Willow Tree” is my first and only remake I have released as an artist. I love the way it came out. You hear some of my feelings, phrases, and mood. I’m still judging it and liking it.

have the best upbringing but still go down the wrong road. Let’s see what we can do to influence the youth. How do you feel about the word, Love?

I mentioned to Christopher that I have not stopped listening to his EP “Better Than Love” since its release. I love his voice on each track and I understand he did most of the writing of the material on the album. I asked him specifically about his inspiration when writing “Left Unsaid”? He told me that the song was a concept.

When you say love, it’s important to note there are different types of love. There is love between a mother and her child. I am speaking of love between a man and a woman. Love is the greatest gift we could have received from God. The feeling of love is so overwhelming you could almost lose your mind with that feeling. You feel like you could stay on a deserted island with just food and them. It’s really a feeling that is mind-blowing. I feel like experiencing love has made it easy for me to write music. Alton Ellis’s genes are in me so my heart is soft.

My mother also loves “Left Unsaid”. When it came together it was so great. I love each song equally on the EP and so overjoyed with it. Working with Damian was brilliant. He would hear the lyrics and get me to change some of the lines if necessary. That helped me as a songwriter and artist. We could have had more songs. I love that you wrote every song on the EP. It represents you expressing yourself as an artist. I want people to know that the album will not have the same sound as the EP. These songs will be included on the album but more material will be represented. We talked bout our favorite music and artists. I wanted to know who some of his favorite artists are, from any genre of music.

What would you like fans to know about your new album? I would like fans to listen and relate to the songs. To see the reality in the lyrics, like the banter in songs like “Left Unsaid”. I have so much more to come and more to give musically. I am excited for fans to hear it. I want the fans to stay with me. When the album comes next year I will also discuss different topics, it’s not just love songs I write. There are songs that will be on the album that I have to yet write. The album may be out next summer. We want the EP to soak in the mindset of the people a little more.

I love a lot of different music. You wouldn’t believe some of the music that is on my iPod. Growing up I used to try and mimic Usher. I loved Blackstreet, R. Kelly. My taste in music is very diverse. I love all genres and different artists from across the board. For instance I have some songs from Justin Bieber on my iPod. He catches a lot of flak but he is very talented. I know you call London home. What would you say is the biggest issue facing youth in London today?

We can’t wait to hear more from Christopher! Check his links:

There is a lot of young killing young. It’s really the company you keep. Even when I was young in school I was surrounded by bad boys. It’s easy to go down that route. I was safe because of music. Alton Ellis being my dad saved me. I could have fell off and went that way but because of my upbringing I stayed on the right path. So a lot of the kids now only see young killing young. They don’t see anything else. If all your friends are dabbling in bad things then there is a good chance you may go that way. That is what we have to change. In my home town kids are dying by knife. Recently a 14 year old kid was stabbed in the heart. That is unfathomable. You can Issue 01 January 2014

Website: http://www.christopherellisofficial.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherEllisOfficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellismuzicchild

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Wayne Marshall- His Tru Colors

On Tessanne Chin winning the U.S. music competition show, The Voice.

By Maliika Walker

“People can say Tessanne is already big (in the Caribbean) why is she on the voice? Being big is relative. The audience in the U.S. market may not know her. She has had a high level of success but she has higher dreams and aspirations. We all have done things that didn’t get the love we were hoping for but you have to keep pushing and we are always growing and moving forward.“

eteran Jamaican artist Wayne Marshall just released his “Tru Colors” EP on November 26, 2013. The EP produced in its entirety by reggae music superstar, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, features a great blend of his latest hits and new material. Wayne Marshall’s skills as a singer, deejay, and songwriter are on full display on the 5 song EP release. The “Tru Colors” EP is a great appetizer of the full album, which will also carry the same name, scheduled to be released January 2014. Both Wayne Marshall projects will be released by the Marley owned label Ghetto Youth’s International and distributed through Thirty Tigers/Sony Red. This will be Wayne Marshall’s first album since, “Marshall Law”, was released ten years ago by VP Records. On raising boys to become men into today’s world

The EP features a remix to his massive hit “Go Hard”, titled “Go Harder”. The original song’s video generated massive video play, generating over 3 million view on World Star Hip Hop alone, so remixing this song with a new batch of artist seems like a natural progression. The remix, “Go Harder” features Wayne Marshall on the hook with Ace Hood, Baby Cham, and Waka Flaka delivering hip-hop flavored verses. Dancehall artist Assassin makes a guest appearance on the catchy, Stupid Money. Assassin’s lyrical flow is a perfect match for Wayne Marshall’s lyrical flow. The hit single, “I Know”, is also featured on the EP and is receiving radio airplay across Jamaican airwaves. One of my favorites lyrics from the song is, “I know I am something you can’t be and that is a reality.” This lyrics speaks to me because I often feel like people are pushing to be like someone else instead of becoming who they were meant to, themselves. The “Tru Colors” EP also features two tracks that are exclusively appear on the EP but will not be included on full length album, “To the Bank” and “Good Ole Wife”. Both tracks are off the Matrimony riddim are the perfect ending to the EP.

“Words can’t explain the importance of the father. The norm perpetuation in society is children growing up without fathers. The vicious cycle continues. Raising a child is a balance between a male and female.” On his EP, “Tru Colors” “I believe it has very diverse flavors. The EP, as well my forthcoming full album, showcases what I have to offer - my “Tru Colors”. I don’t like to speak much about what the music is. I really want the fans to hear the music and decide for themselves how they feel about it. Let’s let the fans make the decision. Junior Gong is a proven hitmaker. This EP is a taste of what we have been working towards. We are paving the way for the next generation. We will never want to break down the music to the point where the next generation can’t make their mark. Both Jr. Gong and I have sons. My 8 year old son is showing a lot of interest in the performing arts. The fans can hear him on a song from the EP titled “Stupid Money”.

Wayne Marshall is very excited for fans to hear his new music. He has progressed to a new level as an artist and we are delighted to watch his journey continue. Island Stage recently spoke with Wayne Marshall and we captured some of his thoughts on a wide range of topics. On performing at SOB’s in NYC

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WayneMarshallMusic

“The core fans show you so much love. New fans show love. The fans have shown so much love over the years. You work so hard to get the respect and when you get it back from the audience it”s always a great feeling.”

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wayne_marshall

Issue 01 January 2014

On his EP, “Tru Colors”

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Alerta Kamarada

Island Stage Magazine Reggae Revival Rising Stars

Get to Know Alerta Kamarada

We love Jamaican music, but what we most prefer is Conscious Roots and Culture. From Skatalites to Third World, Upsetters to Jammys, from Supercat to Busy, Eekamouse to Gregory Isaacs, The Abyssinians, Israel Vibration, Gladiators to Tanya Stephens, Toots and the Maytals to Dennis Brown, just to name a few.

Interview by Elboya Cruz e became familiar with Alerta Kamarada back in 2008 while in LA visiting with friends. We knew right away that these guys had something special, and hearing their music reminds us that Reggae is loved World Wide!With songs like “Princesa”, “Kaliente” and “Por ti Mama” just to name a few, we became instant fans! Alerta Kamarada is one of the hottest Reggae Bands out of Colombia!They have performed and toured extensively with veteran Reggae artists and are the first to be selected as backing band or opening band for artists touring South America. Viva South America!

Who would you like to collaborate with in the future ?

Get to know Alerta KamaradaWe have achieved some dreams such as making backing band with Lee Perry, Tanya Stephens, Jr Reid, and recording with Sugar Minott and Big Youth; But there are other big contemporary artists like Sizzla, Capleton, Busy, Alborosie, Nneka, Stephen and Damian Marley and many more. Of course, we would love to record a big tune with the master Lee Scratch Perry. Time will come.

Tell us how Alerta Kamarada became a group ? We gathered as a group of youths-Rude boys who screamed revolutionary lyrics and rocker attitude by the year of 1996 in the streets of Bogota Colombia. We had, and still have the idea of changing our present through good music and uplifting, natural way of lífe. We started as a punk and ska band, but by 1998 started to gain interest in reggae and other Jamaican music. We went to live in the Caribbean Islands of San Andrew and Providence and also lived in Jamaica where we produced our album “Somos Uno”. We were invited to perform at the 2006 Reggae Sunsplash in Jamaica.

What are the future plans for the band? First in importance is our next show that is a big party with legend Mad Professor at the

Who decided to name the band Alerta Kamarada and why?

controls and Alerta Kamarada playing! Also gonna have important shows in different parts of Colombia , in 2014 Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil and Jamaica are in our plans.

InI named ourselves as Alerta Kamarada, in honor of one of the best characteristics of humankind, the collective work. Alerta Kamarada means to be in position to share with other beings and humans. We are talking bout peace.

www.alertakamarada.net

What does Reggae mean to you as a group ? Reggae is a perfect vehicle which allows us to communicate music and conscious message.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/ALERTA-

Reggae is the real conscious roots and cultural music, and it’s vibrations help to cure humanity. Reggae can be an instrument for the healing of the nations. This music came

KAMARADA/126203610304

into our veins and transformed our minds, it turned our souls into rebel voices. InI are the “Rastas Andinos”,thats how the big calypso legend Harry Belafonte named us after he heard our music.

Who are your influences in reggae? Issue 01 January 2014

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Kehv, The Prince of Reggae Soul by Maliika Walker

nce in a while a voice comes along that is meant to be heard by the masses, a voice that cries to the soul of the person who hears it. The first time I heard Kehv express himself through song, I remember thinking that his gift was meant to touch the world. Kehv hails from the same parish in Jamaica as the great Bob Marley, Nine Miles. His debut album, “Simply Kehv”, was released in November 2009. Kehv has continued to treat audiences to his inspirational lyrics with songs like “Mama”, which was released January 2013. Check out our latest interview with the Prince of Reggae Soul as he shares with us the exciting new projects to come, one of which is an acoustic album! The Prince of Reggae Soul is ready for you to get to know him and his music. Are you ready? One of my favorite songs from you is, “Mama” This song drives me to think of my mother’s influence on my life. Whenever I hear this song an image of my mother’s smile pops up in my head. Was there a particular event or memory that lead you to write this beautiful song? Well, it is sad to think about, but my mom died of cancer 2 years after we found out the diagnoses. It was very sudden. So I really wanted to remember her differently, because the memories of the last days of her life were prominent still in my mind and that’s not how I wanted to remember her. You are the Prince of Reggae Soul. I love your music because I believe you can’t put your sound into one category. Your voice speaks to people. How does it make you feel as a musician to fuel the souls of people with your music? As a musician I believe one of my purposes is to transfer a message encoded in the music to help others in a multidimensional way. It’s a privilege to know that people can listen to the music I’m a part of and be filled from it some how. Even if it’s for a brief moment, that’s a blessing.

KEHV

There is a movement-taking place within R&B. Artists are expressing their art their way and audiences appear ready to hear it. Artists such as Janelle Monae, Gary Clark Jr. and Valerie June are offering audiences a fresh sound. Does this movement excite or influence you as an artist? Issue 01 January 2014

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A dream project for me, from you, is an acoustic EP or full album. Any thoughts in creating a project like this in the future?

This movement is truly all I’ve known as an artist. The journey as I’ve experienced it is to find my true voice. We all as people seek to find our truth and live it in this lifetime. It’s wonderful to witness the start of what I’ll call the new renaissance age of arts and appreciation. I believe it is powerful artist uniting in a commonality of self-expression.

I am actually working simultaneously on two projects right now. One is an acoustic album named “Orange Hill.” This is a place where I grew up in Jamaica, St Ann, Browns Town. I’m teaming up with long time friend Pablo Fairweather from Hardcore Movement. The next project I’ve been working on for the last 3 years, which has many different vibes from roots to lovers’ rock to some surprises. It’s been a long road of writing and collaborating; I’m teaming up with Leroy Pennicot and his team of Reggae foundation musicians to create some magic. It’s gonna be something to remember, I’m very excited about the direction of the album.

Alot has been happening in Florida lately, which is where you reside. Do you feel the black man has to be on constant guard in not just America, but Florida specifically? What comes to mind when you hear the name Trayvon Martin? The exodus of the black family from captivity and dehumanization to freedom and self actualization is still in progress, especially that we’re in a place built mostly by our hands that we still have to walk around on egg shells. I saw the Trayvon Martin incident, as a wake up call for us who are still alive to keep pressing forward, our ancestors didn’t die fighting for our freedom for us to now become complacent. We as a collective need to keep raising the bar. So it’s not just the black man that’s under fire, it’s the whole unit. It really boils down to communities and families sticking together and protecting our children, because the law finds it easy to dismiss the valued life our African youths in this American culture of haves and have-nots. Also it’s very important for any culture to love themselves and the uniqueness of their existence and what it adds to the collective whole of humanity. So the black man has to protect his family, while finding the knowledge of self to know that He is not what’s depicted on the television.

R.A.S.T.A. ‚ Righteous Apostle Serving the Almighty. What is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear these words? What I strive to be continually One of my favorite songs from your album, Simply Kehv, is “Love Will Find A Way”. The video for the song was the perfect visual for the song. What was the creative process for that video and how did you feel about the finished product? That was mostly a collaborative effort between director 1080 Phill and Helen Morgan. Actors Philly Plowden and Debra Foxx really lent their talents to whole process. Great talents! I believe the final product was a success. There is a making of the video on YouTube that’s pretty cool, which gives everyone an idea of the vibe during the shooting.

If you had a chance to cover one song and perform it in front of the original artist what would it be and why? The artist can be from any point in time in history or genre. Jimmy Cliffs’ “Many Rivers To Cross”. I just love that song. It makes me think about the hills and valleys that come with striving after any ideal. Jimmy also did a movie the “Harder They Come”, that is about his struggles of making it in the industry. I could relate to that in so many ways.

What’s‚ next for Kehv? Any upcoming projects your fans can look forward to?

How do you feel about the state of the music industry today? Music fans are not purchasing music like they used to. Does the fickle purchasing behavior of today’s‚ music lover affect your decisions on what to release to the public?

Find Kehv on the Web!

I try to keep it simple. I do my music from my heart and soul, and then make that music available to the public. I wouldn’t want to sacrifice that just to make something different for possible record sales. So to answer frankly, it doesn’t affect my decision of release. I don’t know what people will or will not like. I just do my best.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kehvmusic

Issue 01 January 2014

Well currently I’m pretty busy with my albums, I’m enjoying the process right now, and I may be performing here and there in between all depends on the vibe ya dig!

Website: www.kehvmusic.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/kehvmusic

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What’s all the buzz? article and interview by Susan Underwood

or years I have been hearing about the high prices in Jamaica for electricity. I also know that there are no indiginous resources in Jamaica, such as natural gas, oil and coal for example, so it goes without say that those resources must be imported. With JPS monopolizing the industry, I wondered how the people are to get a fair deal with no competition and apparent price gauging. In speaking with friends and family both inside of Jamaica as well as abroad, I asked if the “go green” revolution had yet reached Jamaica. exorbitant amount for their energy bills so being green in Jamaica is initially mostly focused on energy conservation. To me thats a good first step and that’s where my focus is but there are companies like ECCO Magazine that are really pushing green living in Jamaica. I try and support them as much as possible.

I got my answer when I caught up with Jason Robinson, co-founder at Solar Buzz Jamaica. When I heard that Jason had left the entertainment industry in California to go back home to Jamaica to pursue Solar Buzz along with his brother and father, I wondered if living in California may have pushed him to make this decision. After all, California leads the US in the “Go Green Revolution.”

Tell us about OWL

Here is what Jason had to say.

The OWL Electricity monitor is my favorite product we sell! Basically the OWL is an electricity monitor that Solar Buzz Jamaica has the exclusive rights to distribute in the island. SBJ uses this tool in order to change our clients behaviour towards energy usage since it shows them in real time how much they are spending. Jamaica pays US$0.40/kWh in energy costs as opposed to what people pay in the United States which is about US$0.10/kWh. Therefore when we make people stare at their energy bill all the time by using the OWL electricity monitor they tend to turn things off more frequently. Our clients average 15-20% in lower energy bills just by installing the OWL.

Why did you uproot yourself from living in the entertainment/Hollywood/party lifestyle to moving back to Jamaica? Jamaica is home and I always knew that one day I would move back once I felt the time and business opportunity was right. I lived in LA for 8yrs and it was a great experience to be able to work in the entertainment industry as a promoter. It really sharpened my business skills and opened up my network to a variety of really great people. Being a promoter started to wear me down as I was out most nights either working, networking or promoting an event. It just got to the point where I knew I didnt want that to be my entire life. I started to get involved with solar energy in California as it was booming and I knew I could take those skills back to Jamaica one day especially as I saw the energy crisis here growing.

I know you shifted focus from selling solar energy to educating the people on conservation. How are your measuring your progress in that education? Well we still sell solar system but we make it a phase two after a client has become energy efficient. For our active clients we keep a monthly tab on their energy usage by downloading the energy information from their OWL monitors. This allows us to see if they are staying on track with the plan we gave them or if any issues are causing a high energy bill. This allows us to attack problems early and help them maintain a lower bill.

What does “being green” mean to you? Being green to me is about being conscious of how my actions affect the world and my immediate surroundings. Honestly in Jamaica the green lifestyle and sustainable living hasn’t really taken off as yet. People here are paying an Issue 01 January 2014

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Jamaica has no indigenous source of coal, oil or natural gas, thus making it necessary to import these resources for energy. How has Solar Buzz helped create awareness and savings in this area? Overall people are becoming more aware of the importance of energy conservation because energy bills keep rising and the Jamaican dollar keeps devaluing. Its important for people outside Jamaica to understand that we have a monopoly electricity company (JPS - @myjpsonline) whose rates keep rising due to their inefficient power plants that run on 96% diesel fuel. So as fuel costs rise, Jamaica’s energy costs rise and we are a majority poor country, so think of the effects on the population. Businesses are closing because of high energy costs and people cannot afford their home energy bills either. JPS has fought hard to keep people from being able to sell back their excess solar energy to the grid basically stifling the residential solar market since this forces people to buy battery solar systems and those are expensive. Meanwhile this monopoly electric company (JPS) is starting to sell solar systems of their own and open their own energy efficient stores selling products to compete with small energy companies like Solar Buzz Jamaica. I equate this to a drug dealer owning a rehab and its f’ed up. I started SBJ to help people lower their bills and survive this fight because government isnt helping since they own 20% of JPS. So thats the battle we are facing down here right now, an energy war. People are very well aware of the issues we face in Jamaica. What they haven’t know in the past is the low cost, and no cost ways to lower their energy bills immediately. Thats where Solar Buzz Jamaica has also focused in helping the mass market who can’t afford a solar system right now. Offering solutions such as timers for their old refrigerators and low cost electrical efficiency work to improve wiring in a home or business. These simple things can have a big impact on energy bills and we intend to spread the knowledge and eventually get everyone on solar. Jamaica has so much sun, and it is literally a sin to allow a monopoly energy company (JPS) to block people from solar energy in order for them to profit. The streets are not going to stand by and allow it forever that much I can tell you…

http://www.solarbuzzjamaica.com/ @jason_robinson @solarbuzzja

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dreadheadchef.com

Words: Robert Nesta Marley Photographs: Lindsay Oliver Donald http://poalaofthebook.com/

Island Stage Magazine Reggae Revival Rising Stars

COULD

YBEO U LOVED? Rastafari-Reggae Bob Marley: Africa Scattered for Rhythm of Spirit of Oneness for the World -Tekla Mekfet (320 pages, iPublisher forthcoming Spring 2014) Review by Michael Kuelker Issue 01 January 2014

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hen Jamaican Rastafarian Tekla Mekfet asks, “Could you be loved?”, the “you” he addresses in this uniquely ambitious and absorbing book and stirs into recognition is nothing less than the self’s indwelling of Africa-as-Zion.

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and environment have ill-prepared us. And so whether the linked topic is music, race, politics, education, spirituality or sexually explicit dancehall culture, re-patria-tion is the song he is sounding from his trumpet. About reggae’s most visible icon, Ras Mekfet writes,

Can you recognize essence of shared Africa in you, and love the Africa in you?” he writes. “Could the Africa in you be loved?”

Words of Rastafari-Reggae’s Bob Marley – ‘black mysticism’” … way of getting at the ultimate truth of things’ – are linked to seven concepts of African philosophy, and such philosophy is linked to philosophy of the Bible. The identified shared philosophy is then applied to contemporary social problems or issues of Jamaica and the world.

It is a refrain singing from these pages (originating of course in the Bob Marley song of the same name) and aimed at Rastafarians, at Jamaican people, at global readers, anyone with ears to hear. This is a vast and large-hearted book concerning Rastafari in the contemporary world. Bob Marley is for Ras Mekfet a representative man around whom radiate many key themes, politically, artistically, spiritually. There are myriad references to other Jamaican artists as well. Marley’s philosophy-in-music is related to myriad artists including jazz’s Miles Davis and John Coltrane, hip hop’s Tupac and Snoop Dogg, and dancehall’s Shabba Ranks and Vybz Kartel. He incorporates the work of visual artists like Osmond Watson and Christopher Gonzalez, finding in their art more penetrative Rastafari meaning than that from the academic world. Like a jazz musical figure Mekfet’s wordflow arches, bends and returns, again and again, to Africa. Africa as humanity’s origins, Africa as source of history, genetic memory, orienting principles and practices, spiritual sustenance, Africa as a space upon which great conflict ensues generation upon generation. As “universal umbilical cord.”

The Ras is to be read for his wisdom and his flair for artful edifying rhetoric. In writing of positive African-centered consciousness, instead of giving an abstract definition of Babylon he describes a “Man-Money-Machine of womb of Market: Contemporary Populist Animism.” He integrates Bob Marley’s Babylon “to concern about the ‘spirit of Babylon’” in writings from Shakespeare to D.H. Lawrence, Herman Hesse, Gunther Grass, Borges, even to Soren Kierkegaard’s concept of ‘Dread’. He puts Norman Mailer’s “The White Negro” on our reading list and refers to the phenomenon of “seeking ‘self’ relating to black music and language, of empathizing alienation and discontent, and as ‘hipsters’ […] seeking coping knowing African concept of ‘Cool.’” Tekla Mekfet’s book is valuable not only for its contents but for the portrait it presents of the yin-and-yang of Rasta intellectualism: universal and culture-specific; lion and lamb; the tone both welcoming and severe; the sources Afrocentric and cross-continental; the author a philosopher with jazz poetry in his soul.

Tekla Mekfet has an extensive background. Over the years he has worked as a business manager, farmer, journalist in print and radio, teacher, school administrator. He is also a compelling voice for spiritual awakening and Rasta self-determination in Could Y O U Be Loved, which will be published as an e-book in spring 2014 and which expands on a keynote lecture the author delivered in February 2010 at the International Reggae Conference held at the University of West Indies-Mona (Kingston, Jamaica). I attended this conference, giving a presentation of my own and hearing many lectures including a riveting one by Ras Mekfet that forms the basis of this book.

These traits extend to everything he addresses. For instance, in regard to crime in the community: Crime & Violence analyzed as individual personal disorder rather than of systemic disorders blind ones to the simple fact of widespread dangerously dire desperation to provide basics of keeping self & family alive ‘Born under a bad sign’ … ‘Yu dun know.’ [You already know.] – as a popular colloquialism underlines seeking solace in empathy of experience and need out of deprivation …

In explaining his purpose, he provides one of the most illuminating definitions of repatriation that I have yet seen in primary or secondary sources on Rasta, and it hinges on deconstruction. This lecture, thirteenth in the series, seeks rhythm of logic of life in eternal logic of Nature with identified shared concepts of philosophy towards unifying Africa for unifying the world – and the ‘patria’ meaning ‘father,’ worldwide re-patriation is of turning again to The One Father of Humankind & All Creation for a truly African Renaissance … to be ‘born again’ … as His Imperial Majesty stated: ‘members of a new race … something … for which our education and experience Issue 01 January 2014

The author explains crime as both structural and personal, and again the theme is of rupture and the need for renewal, re-patria-tion. Crime & Violence as of Hume’s ‘law of causality’ or logic in Nina Simone’s ‘Backlash Blues’ or ‘Born Under a Bad Sign’ (‘Ambush’). … I been down since PAGE

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I began to crawl/If it wasn’t for bad luck wouldn’t have no luck at all/Bad luck & troubles been my only friends’ – as under the ‘bad sign’ [‘ambush’] of independent–slavery–colonialism of ‘Whiteness’ as the most sought after personal ‘Fitness Trainer’.

rimming with the power of the word-sound through its 300 pages with index and page song references, Could Y O U Be Loved effuses with wisdom and shards of fact which the author assembles before our eyes and sets into motion. The vision astounds. A single page will quote poetry by TS Eliot and refer to ideas from anthropologist Richard Leakey and Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. Ras Mekfet’s font of ideas and rhetorical swing-and-dine is dazzling. Teachable moments await on every page. And no doubt the text will surely strike some readers as beyond their threshold of readability and comprehension. In regard to the rhetoric of his book he says: “The ‘idiosyncratic formatting’ […] is as strange new presentation of vitally nourishing food dawning delectable with the chewing now anticipating the next course - even as you linger savoring significance in quotable quotes such as “Often, life is not ...” Ras Tekla Mekfet photo by Michael Kuelker And the whole story relates to the world environment of creatures of creation rhythmriding relating/moving dancing to inborn/native rhythm of seasons of Nature - in context of Humankind’s peculiar capacity to disrupt rhythm for vain glory suffering consequences of broken or lost rhythm. Reminder, of such ‘ecology’ of meaning is sought underlined in the rhythm of the music of the format of the language of COULD Y O U BE LOVED. In his own thoroughly original way Tekla Mekfet evokes the largesse of spirit and innovative rhetorical performances of Walt Whitman. In his time Whitman opened up the space of the line in American verse; he had an agile poetic persona; he was chronicler, seer, prophet. In our time Ras Mekfet is accomplishing much the same through his vision and voice. With Could Y O U Be Loved, Rastafari literature has its Leaves of Grass. ii Michael Kuelker is a teacher, writer and reggae radio DJ on KDHX 88.1 FM in St. Louis, Missouri. He is the editor of Book of Memory: A Rastafari Testimony (CaribSound 2005), the spiritual memoir of Jamaican Rasta elder Prince Elijah Williams”

photo by Christopher Gonzalez

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I didn’t know what to expect when I attended the Brooklyn screening of the documentary, Bob Marley: Making of a Legend. I began hearing about the film in 2011, about six months before Kevin McDonald’s ‘Marley’ film was released.”- Maliika Walker

Bob Marley:Making of a Legend by Maliika Walker

he film was directed by Esther Anderson and Gian Godoy. Initially, I thought this was just another attempt by someone to make money off of Bob Marley’s name and image. As a “Marleyian”, (the nickname I give to diehard Marley fans like myself), I have watched countless Bob Marley documentaries but was always disappointed in the end. Most of the previous documentaries or television specials just repackaged the same information that was already told by another source. What could be the filmmaker’s motive for releasing this footage thirty years after it was filmed? What possible new information can this film provide to fans that we did not already know? I got the answer to these questions and more upon watching the film, Bob Marley: Making of Legend.

f you are looking for a film that covers Bob Marley’s entire life, you will not find that here. What you will find is a film that captures Bob Marley and Peter Tosh before they became known to the world. This film covers the time period just after ‘Catch a Fire’ was released but before the breakup that would change the course of The Wailers lives forever. I was not even bothered by the poor video quality of the footage because of the significance of what was captured. Bob and

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Peter are filmed reasoning at 56 Hope Road on topics such as the origination of herb, religion, and Bob’s car problems. A friend of mine who saw the film didn’t understand why the conversation Bob and Peter had about Bob’s car problems was in the film but I saw it from a different perspective. I felt the communication, between Bob and Peter, were precious moments in time, intimate moments that only brothers share. While watching Bob and Peter communicate, I couldn’t help but think of how much pain the both of them must have felt when the time came that they no longer shared such closeness.

ome reviewers have stated that this film had no message but I disagree. The message to me is here is a legend on the precipice of spreading his music all over the globe. In this film Bob is just being Bob without all the hoopla that is fame. The Bob Marley presented in this film is not the mystical figure that he has become, but someone who can be anyone PAGE

one of us.

he most pivotal scene to me is the footage of The Wailers rehearsal. Watching Bob, Peter, and Bunny

Wailer arrive at Hope Road to rehearse then witnessing them work together, with the Barrett brothers, was truly beyond amazing to watch. It would have been wonderful to hear the actual musical performance portion of the rehearsal, but the filmmakers were not allowed to use any recordings of Bob Marley or The Wailers. Instead, the film has a soundtrack of www.island-stage.com

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reggae infused tracks by various artists such as Francois Jocky, Akila Barrett, and Chris Anderson.

have suffered discrimination, oppression and colonization. The songs I wrote with Bob were a reaction to the injustices we experienced, which to us were serious social issues. Those songs have made a difference in the world today, after 40 years of struggle. Today, society in general, and music in particular, have been highjacked by the only-for-profit corporations, without social consciousness. They sell music they do not believe in. They have created an artificial circus where the freedom we fought for 40 years ago has been forgotten, a circus where the issues have been reduced to the banalities of the celebrity culture. The true Rasta should be concerned with strengthening the message of Haile Selassie during his reign, and the teachings he left to all Africans and to all who love the music of Bob Marley and the Wailers.

sther Anderson also shared an experience she and Bob Marley had in Haiti in 1973. They were traveling with Island Records but put in a hotel separate from the rest of the group. They were kept separated the entire trip and apparently no one noticed they were missing until they got to the plane to depart the island. This incident obviously took place before Bob Marley started making money for Island Records. Ms. Anderson explained how angry she and Bob were due to their treatment by the record label and she felt their actions were prejudiced. The experience from this trip would eventually bring her and Bob closer together as they entered into a relationship, but she explains she did not know he was married. She also shares that this incident inspired the classic Wailers tune, Get up Stand Up. The Wailer’s classic ‘Rastaman Chant’ was apparently inspired by a song called ‘Fly Away Home’ performed regularly by a Rastaman by the name of Bongo Mackey. Another key revelation that surprised the audience was Ms. Anderson stating that ‘I Shot the Sherriff’ was inspired by Bob Marley’s discovery that she was taking birth control pills.

The movie covers a crucial period for The Wailers. They were in between the releases Catch a Fire and Burnin. Is there anything else you would like the audience to know about this period that is not captured in the film? There are many fragments of this story that have been lost. The film in itself is archaeology of Colonial and post-Colonial Jamaica. The importance of the Wailers, the crucial significance of the Barrett brothers as the heart-beat of Reggae needs to be understood properly. Without Aston Familyman Barrett and without Carlton Carlie Barrett we would not have succeeded in placing Jamaica on the map. It is precisely for that reason we are working on the sequel of the film that should come out after Bob Marley’s birthday on the 6th February. They brought to the world a new rhythm that is now incorporated in popular culture, the Reggae rhythm. There we will expand on some of the themes we explored in part one, such as the legacy of Haile Selassie today. Catch a Fire and Burnin’ marked the beginning of a music revolution that continues today. The music, which is a cry for justice, continues. Many people think that the success of the music has filtered to the communities in the Caribbean where the music originated. That is not the case. The communities that have benefitted from the music revolution are the shareholders of the record companies and the owners of the music publishing. Not the Rastafarians. Look, today they’re pushing away the Rasta’s from Pinnacle, a land they have occupied forever.

Bob Marley: Making of a Legend’ is not to be missed by fans of The Wailers, Peter Tosh, or Bob Marley. The film shows us some of the magic that was The Wailers. The brotherhood that helped introduce reggae music to the world. The true giants of roots reggae before the fame and breakup that would take root a short time after this documentary was filmed. This is not only a story about Bob Marley but a brief look into the history of The Wailers. The footage of Bob and Peter reasoning and making music together alone makes this film a must own. Island Stage recently got the opportunity to speak with Esther Anderson about her film and future projects. Ms. Anderson is a legendary Jamaican filmmaker, actress, and photographer. Her most known film as an actress is ‘A Warm December’ where she acted alongside Academy Award winner Sidney Poitier. This is Part 2 of my interview with this trailblazing woman below. Part 1 of our conversation can be found at http://www.island-stage.com/2013/08/12/bob-marley-making-of-alegend During a recent screening of ‘Making of a Legend’ in Brooklyn, some Rasta’s in the audience were angry that you stated that you wrote a portion of ‘Get up Stand up’ with Bob Marley. To them they felt it was obvious that the full song was written by Peter Tosh. How would you respond to this

The film does a great job of unmasking Bob Marley from the mythic figure he has become. Was that the true intention for releasing the film today? The film needed to bring back Robert Nesta to his community, the community where he came from, which is our Jamaica and our Ethiopia. And we as Jamaicans identify also with the suffering of our brothers and sisters in the States, who have been fighting for equal rights and justice for a mighty long

Yes, we wrote the song together. The whole issue of Get up Stand up, Stand up for your Rights is about fighting for your rights. It is a universal call for all of us who Issue 01 January 2014

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time. It was important for us to bring Bob back to his community, as a human being, as a brother to his friends, as a member of a large team of Jamaicans who helped carry the music forward. Some people in the music business want to kill the human side of Bob to turn him into an icon made of ivory, unreachable to the people who love the music, who identify with the fight against injustice that flows in all the songs. Our communities need him closer. We need him to return to us. It has been too long and if we don’t watch it, he will end up advertising mortgage packages for a big bank. He would be appalled by all the commercialization of his image today.

The Wailers broke up after the release of Burnin’. Did you see any signs of the tragedy that was to come?

While you were working with Island Records, you worked to showcase the music of Jamaica to the world. What is your opinion of the music coming out of Jamaica today?

The film not only captures Bob Marley but it also vividly captures Peter Tosh. What would you like the world to know about the ‘Revolutionary’?

We are working with fabulous musicians from Jamaica. The son of Aston Familyman Barrett, Aston Jr, and Carlie Barrett’s son, Akila Barrett. They are composers, scholars of music. They represent a new generation of artists who have performed around the world at a very early age, honing their skills like Mozart or Beethoven did in their time. Chris Anderson, my brother, grew up in Hope Road and learned from the Wailers. He researched the ancestral Taino instruments of the Caribbean, incorporating its mystical sounds into Reggae. Formulla is another extraordinary musician, like Ras McKoy, all emerging from Jamaica. Irie Jam Production is a studio putting out very strong sounds. Also in Jamaica, Fams Studio from Kingston is producing great music as well.

Peter was a great man, a great musician and a great friend to Bob and the Wailers. People should learn to respect their profound friendship. We’ll explore more aspects of Peter’s contribution on part two.

There was never an ending of the brotherhood. They always remained brothers, and close friends. The reason for the break up has more to do with the pressure that the artists suffered from the contractual agreement with the record company -They were only paid peanuts, for six of them in the band. All they got was 6000 usd for the album, and out of that they had to pay the recording fee. It wasn’t easy for them.

Today, Bob Marley’s message is heard by millions around the globe. The lyrics in his music have touched souls. What would you like to say about the everlasting impact of his music, over 30 years after his death? Bob said his music, “will follow me everywhere”, and he was right. In regards to the economic success, as Bob said, “you get praise but not raises.” Now, what we need to do is to ensure the Jamaican communities, our children, our grannies, are well protected, by bringing the rewards to Jamaica.

What impact would you like ‘Bob Marley: Making of a Legend’ to have on the audience? What would you like their lasting impression to be?

You were in a relationship with Bob Marley during the time you captured The Wailers on film. Did the relationship have anything to do with your decision to help the group?

The understanding of the man, his human side, his collaboration with the musicians, his strength in defending Haile Selassie, the importance of looking up to Ethiopia and, finally, the appreciation of Jamaica’s natural beauty, and her music.

Yes it had, and after hearing Slave Driver, Concrete Jungle and 400 Years for the first time in Nassau. With lyrics and music like that, as a Jamaican, I can only help, as I had done with Jackie Edwards, Millie Small and Jimmy Cliff from the early 60’s. The whole of Jamaica was burning with new energies in the early seventies. In fact, we wanted to change Jamaica with Bob. We were in love. I made a commitment.

You mentioned that you aided the Wailers in embracing Rasta image. This was a key turning point for the band from a promotions perspective. How did you go about convincing the Wailers to unite their way of life to how they would be seen by the world? They didn’t need much convincing. They had to go all the way. Ras Daniel Hartman, the great Jamaican actor and painter, was the key to understand how the world needed to see The Wailers. I approached the presentation of the image of the Wailers as my friends Robert Freeman had done with the Beatles and Andrew Oldham had done with the Stones. Issue 01 January 2014

Website: http://www.bobmarleythemakingofalegend.com/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/BobMarleyTheMakingOfALegend Twitter: https://twitter.com/BobMarleyFilm

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12 Years a Slave A beautiful, painful masterpiece Review by Maliika Walker

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his morning I woke up, took a shower, and prepared breakfast in my own home. I then took out my tablet and proceeded to read. The fact that I was able to do these things today, as a free black woman, did not enter my mind at all. Today many of us live as free people, without any thought of the pain and suffering our ancestors experienced for us to be here. Now, imagine if we were in the era of slavery and you had to depend on your Master for soap to wash yourself after working from sun-up to sun-down picking cotton. Imagine if you could not be caught reading anything or that could result in 100 lashes of a whip. Imagine someone taking out a mortgage to purchase you, as if you were a home. Parents, imagine being separated from your children forever because they were sold to another owner and you had to continue your life knowing your children were out there somewhere and you could do nothing to help them. Imagine you starting a new job, but the day you show up to work you are drugged and sold into slavery and you had no way of fighting for your rights. Ladies, imagine being raped whenever your ‘master’ wanted lay on top of you then having the master’s wife treat you with contempt because their husband desires you. Recently I watched Steve McQueen’s painful, yet beautiful film,’12 Years a Slave’, for the second time, and I was drawn to reflect on the freedoms we take for granted today.

to help his own conscience. After Solomon got into a fight with one of the plantation’s overseer’s he was sold to Edwin Epps, a hard man known for breaking slaves. When Solomon learned he was being sold he tried to explain who he was but Ford explained he was a debt and now he had to sell him for Solomon’s safety. End of story. He wanted to hear nothing about Solomon’s true situation. It didn’t matter because all he meant to Ford was a debt, a piece of property he owned and had to sell. Let that sink in for a moment. Imagine being in Solomon’s position. It was at this moment he must have finally understood what a fellow slave told him earlier, that Ford was a slaver and could care less about his situation.

’12 Years a Slave’ tells the story of Solomon Northup, a free black man from Saratoga Springs, New York. Solomon supported his family as a musician, lived in his home with his wife and two children. He was a man who walked thru town with his family, freely shopped, completely unaware of the tragedy that was to come. One day he makes the mistake of accepting a job offer from two traveling musicians at a circus in Washington D.C. They take him for dinner and drinks and he wakes up in shackled and chains. The look of despair on his face, as he realizes his situation, is heartbreaking to watch.

Edwin Epps was a psychotic, alcoholic slave owner who seemed to enjoy dispensing daily cruelty on his slaves. Michael Fassbender is pure evil as sadistic owner Edwin Epps.. His slaves would pick cotton from sun up to sun down and if he wasn’t happy with the amount picked, they were whipped. No one faced more punishment and brutality than Patsey, played majestically by newcomer Lupita Nyong’o. Patsey picked more cotton daily, over 500 pounds, than any other slave on the plantation (male or female).

Life on the Epps plantation would be the extreme opposite of what he faced on the Ford plantation. Solomon was treated favorably by the owner on the Ford plantation, coupled with being new to the institution of slavery, he still had his pride and recent memories of freedom. It was because of this that he felt comfortable mouthing off to the overseer and even hitting him with a whip. He possibly felt he hit his limit with this man degrading him day after day, especially since the man was not the brightest tool in the box. But that was a different planation entirely. The Epps plantation would be even more of a nightmarish experience for Solomon.

However, she was an obsession for her owner, Edwin Epps, which meant she was subject to rape almost daily. Edwin Epps wife was jealous of her and even hit her with a bottle when she caught her husband staring at her. Sarah Paulson is a twisted and villainous as Mistress Epps, a woman just as evil as her husband. Her hatred for Patsey was like her husband was carrying on an affair with a willing participant on her property. This of course was not the case. My heart went out to Patsey as she was subject to abuse by Mistress Epps whenever she wanted to further demean her for her husband’s obsession. Edwin Epps was apparently tormented by his attraction to Patsey so he would not only rape her but beat her as well.

Ejiofor is brilliant as Solomon Northup. You truly feel every emotion his character is feeling. Solomon’s expressions of disbelief and bewilderment as he was transported by boat to Louisiana, and sold like live cattle to his first owner, are truly felt by the audience. You see his agony as he watches powerless while the slave trader separates a woman from her children. Solomon’s first slave owner, Ford, was hypocritically humane. He looked of a man who could sleep at night because he was ‘fair’ to his slaves. Upon arrival on the plantation, Ford informs his wife that the wailing woman was separated from her children. The wife then recommends her new slave to get some water, some rest and her children will soon be forgotten. I got so angry I could have grabbed the wife and threw her to the ground. How dare she imply that a woman can get over her children being ripped out of her arms and sold to the highest bidder. It was obvious Ford could tell Solomon was a ‘learned’ man, a term at the time used for people of color who could read and write, but he did nothing to find out more about his reason for being there. Instead he gifted Solomon with pleasantries and an instrument as some type of peace offering.It was obvious to me he was kind just Issue 01 January 2014

Thanks to the kindness of a visiting contractor, Solomon Northup’s friends are informed of his situation and he is returned to his family. The time Solomon dreamt of the entire film, a chance to see his wife and children again, is possibly the happiest and saddest ending to a film in recent memory. Solomon stood in front of his family a much different man than he was before he was kidnapped. I actually began to weep for him as he apologized to his family for showing up at their home after so much time away. Solomon was blessed to regain his freedom but what about those who never got such an opportunity. Most free men & women PAGE

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who were kidnapped never regained their freedom. Let’s not forget that the majority of people of color in the western world were slaves for hundred’s of years. I am not of the naive thought that some form of modern day slavery is not taking place in the world today. I feel powerless in the fight to combat such evil. All I can do is pray for the victims currently suffering through such an unimaginable existence. The men and women responsible for carrying out such atrocities will eventually face the judgement of God. I write this piece as a descendant of slaves in the United States. Just think, you are alive today because your ancestor’s found a way to survive. You are alive because your ancestors survived the middle passage from Africa. Upon your ancestor’s arrival at their eventual destination, they were enslaved and they faced this indignity day after day, generation after generation. They found a way to fight for all of us. I can not imagine the strength and fortitude it took to live through such an existence. To be a man and not able to protect his family from whatever horror’s their owner planned for them. In many ways ’12 Years a Slave’ was a display of the attempted breaking of the spirit of the black man. Look at the plight of the black man today. I could not help sitting there thinking about the battle black men faced during slavery vs. today. Oh to be a woman and not be able to wake up and look forward to day filled with pleasant subtleness, to not be able to eventually see a light at the end of the tunnel. When I think of women like Patsey, I think of women who continue to suffer from domestic violence and feel they have no way to escape. Some of these women feel death is the only escape and continue to be trapped in a vicious cycle of abuse. Some women of today can get help from the authorities, or family, etc. Women during slavery had no such rights. They simply had to find a way to face each day. Since watching ’12 Years a Slave’, I can’t help but feel I need to make every moment count. We all owe it to our ancestors to make a difference in this world. To blaze a path of success for the next generation as was done for us. To all of those who walked this earth before us, we give thanks to you for your sacrifices, your strength and courage. Your resilience against unthinkable adversity is the reason we are here today and we give thanks. We will always be eternally grateful that you found a way to LIVE!! Follow Mallika @ https://twitter.com/maliikawalker

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