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“Super privileged” is how Mexican reggae band Antidoping described the feeling of being in Jamaica to perform on the Bob Marley 80th birthday tribute at Emancipation Park last Thursday. It was the first visit for the band which does “reggae mixed with some Latin roots”.
”It’s the first time doing reggae in Jamaica and that’s why we feel so nervous. Two members of the band, Pedro and Manuel, discovered Bob Marley in 1990. They liked the rhythm and decided to stick with it. Bob Marley is the biggest picture for reggae … not just in Mexico, but everywhere in the world. For us in Mexico, it’s our example of reggae … it’s our stamp. He represents everything. That’s why it is so important for us to be here representing for Mexico,” band member Pepe told The Gleaner.
Antidoping was one of two bands from South America — the other one being Non Palidece from Argentina — that performed at the Reggae Month concert hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission. This year’s event attracted what is arguably the biggest crowd ever and fireworks were even a part of the showcase.
Early performers who set the tone for the event were Bongo Herman, who is a staple at most Bob Marley-centred events; up-and-coming singer Aza Lineage, who delivered a conscious set dressed in pure white, in tribute to those born in February; Mexican reggae singer Jah Fabio, who made an indelible impression last year; and the two reggae bands.
Rastafarian reggae singer Warrior King performed right after Aza Lineage and continued the ‘conscious’ thread with Marley’s So Much Things To Say, in tribute to the King of Reggae, and smoothed out his set with his own original songs, including the hit Never go Where Pagans go.
“We know a Bob Marley ‘Earthstrong’ ... mek mi hear oonu seh Jah! Rastafari! It’s substance ova hype, positivity ova negativity, quality ova mediocrity … Rita Marley big up yuhself!” Warrior King said as the music played low.
Warrior King did something unusual, but uplifting. He brought up his “beautiful wife” on stage and serenaded her, much to the delight of the audience. He followed up, appropriately, with the popular Virtuous Woman.
Also giving high-value entertainment was Bushman. The man from St Thomas came with a message in song, and shared that he “was humbled to be a part of this manifestation”.
With a musical bee in his bonnet, Bushman decided to “use this platform [to] urge the radio stations to start regulate our music”, and suggested that there should be million- dollar fines for the playing of songs that breach the regulations.
“I do believe we are creating a generation of vipers through our music. When me a grow up, me a try emulate Bob with mi board guitar and sardine pan. Our music gives us vision … but a two vision, good vision and bad vision. It’s time to rebel. Mek mi tell onnu … the barrels of pens are more dangerous than the barrels of guns,” Bushman said in his sermonette.
His Marley song of choice was Ambush in the Night, followed by his ‘big chune’, Lighthouse, which had Minister Grange and Marcia Griffiths rocking. Bushman reminded the fans of his songs, such as the powerful Remember the Days, and admonished them to “memba seh a Bushman sing dem song deh”.
Julian Marley, who closed the show, had a real reggae party going on. He did selections from his father’s catalogue as he danced and had fans saying that “him move and sound like Bob”. He invited his brother Stephen and his nephew, Skip Marley, to perform, and then dancehall artistes Bugle and Bounty Killer showed their appreciation and took fans on another high.
The celebration for what would have been Bob Marley’s 80th birthday is being held under the theme ‘Uprising’.
English (US) ·