Grange makes appeal for ‘message music’

Classic songs from the catalogues of some of reggae and dancehall music’s finest artistes, along with performances that ranged from good to great were the hallmark of the free Bob Marley Day concert at Emancipation Park on February 6 in celebration of the Gong’s 78th birthday.

It was the first time that the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport was hosting a concert in tribute to the birthday of the King of Reggae and Minister Grange shared that it was had the blessings of the Marley family. It was a night of message in song, and the culture minister had one of her own, directly targeting young artistes.

“I hope that moving on tonight will be an inspiration to the young artistes out there because the message is in the music. You are standing on the shoulders of great people like Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Toots Hibbert, and I could go on and on. They have paved the way and I am asking that when you write songs, that you write songs that will uplift and play music that will continue from generation to generation.”

Special guest at the JaRIA-endorsed event was Dr Memunatu B Pratt, minister of tourism and cultural affairs in Sierra Leone.

Headlined by Marley scion, Julian, he represented well and closed the show on a high. Fans were thrilled when he called on his brothers Damian — who gave a short performance – and Stephen who were not billed for the concert. They brought the curtains down with the One Love anthem.

Prior to the Marley takeover, Capleton, backed by the Blak Soil band, proved to be magical. During his high-energy set, King Shango had the audience totally on their feet as he instructed them to wave this way and that; move to the left and to the right and show their “lightas”. Establishing his Rastafari and ‘Fireman’ credentials from early, he told the eager crowd, “When I say more, you say ‘Fire. When I say ‘Jah’, you say ‘Rastafari’,” and, relishing every second, they obeyed. Songs such as Jah Jah City, Small World, Stand Tall, Or Wah, and his tribute to the Gong, Lively Up Yourself, made alasting impact.

Among the legends in the house were Marcia Griffiths, the Queen of Reggae, who toured with Marley as a member of the I-Three, and whose performance was hit-filled. Delivering classics such as Dreamland and All My Life, she later called up Queen Ifrica for the Marley tribute Who the Cap Fit. Ifrica, in turn, paid tribute to Sister Marcia and fittingly performed Lioness on the Rise.

With a natural mystic blowing through the air, the song-fest saw Admiral Tibet reeling off Times is so Serious, Leave People Business Alone, Don’t Try to Diss; the high-frequency Droop Lion stirring with songs like Hello Carol, and Freeway; and twice Grammy-nominated singer Etana, dressed in an itsy bitsy skirt and top, delivering Roots, I am Not Afraid and Small Axe in tribute to Marley. Gyptian’s Serious Times proved to be crowd favourite and he transformed Emancipation Park into a choir.

George Nooks opened with Through it All and segued into 40 Leg Dread and Rastaman Vibration. Max Romeo, the veteran who is retiring from touring this year, delighted with War Inna Babylon, Mackabee Version, and Redemption Song; Dennis Walks scored with The Drifter, G-Whizz got a huge response with Life and Lutan Fyah left the stage burning.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com