Blogger, photographer, producer . I am not a conformist i try to see things differently, blocking out the noise of the crowd and listening to my heart, my feelings and those that have no voice.
Jamaican First Officer Deon Byme currently pilots one of the world’s most impressive aircraft – the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The 787 Dreamliner is Boeing’s most advanced airplane and purchasing one will set you back by a cool USD $250 million.
Throughout her career, proving herself has helped Byrne overcome skepticism and has opened doors, including earning a berth flying United’s newest metal, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. “I was one of the first all-female 787 flight crews,” she says. “It’s one of the fastest airplanes out there. We cruise really high. Someone takes off before us, and we’ll pass them over the Atlantic. I love this airplane.” BLESS MY SISTER
(Thanks, June Daley, for original post).
Reggae icon Buju Banton currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in the USA has become focal point of a new controversy after rumors has surfaced that he has embraced Christianity and became a pastor in prison.
“Those are all rumors and these folks should stop trying to tarnish Buju’s reputation any more than what has been done already,” the singer’s rep told members of the media.
Banton’s rep also used the opportunity to enlighten the media that he is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in prison and has been counseling his fellow inmates. The respective discipline of his studies however was not revealed.
“He is pursuing his Master’s Degree while serving his time and will be returning home to Jamaica upon his release in early 2019. A lot of the inmates look up to him and he has been like a mentor to them,” the rep explained.
Buju Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was convicted on drug trafficking charges in 2011. He was sentenced to serve the minimum sentence of 10 years in a Federal prison. The singer has maintained his innocence
Leonard Percival Howell was born in Jamaica in 1898, but left as a teenager to find work in the Americas.
His most influential stay was in Harlem, New York, where he experienced bigotry, racism and social oppression first hand.
With the influence of the black civil rights movement, and spiritual and political guidance from Marcus Garvey and the United National IA, Powell chose to dedicate himself to a life against hatred, oppression and injustice. On committing his life to his cause, he began preaching his word across America. However, it wasn’t long before heads of states around the world began inviting him to preach his doctrine in their cities.
In 1929, He ran a “teahouse” where cannabis was smoked. He was deported from the US in 1932 and started preaching throughout Jamaica about Ras Tafari as messiah returned to earth.
After the death of his father in 1932, Powell then returned to Jamaica with the intention of sharing his message throughout the shanty towns and townships. The timing of his return coincided advantageously with the crowning of Emperor Haile Selassie I in Ethiopia, solidifying Powell’s message that the Emperor was the “Messiah returned to Earth”.
He was soon arrested then released in 1936. Alexander Bustamante, a union organizer in 1939 wrote to the Governor:
“Serious trouble is brewing …owing to a mischievousness of a man named Howell, leader of this terrible thing called ‘Rastafari’. It seems to me the only proper place for this man is in the asylum. He is the greatest danger today, and I believe the police can confirm.”
In 1940, Leonard Howell setup “Pinnacle” on an old 500-acre estate, accessible by foot and hidden from the rest of the world, accommodating 1,600 self-sufficient residents. There, he set up The Pinnacle, the epicenter of the Rastafari movement, and thousands of the poorest Jamaicans flocked to his mini Rastafari nation.
Powell worked tirelessly in the community preaching his doctrine and educating Jamaicans, especially those in the lower classes, about the social and economical empowerment of self-sufficiency. This caused tensions to rise between Powell and Jamaican authorities, as well as a split between Powell and UNIA founder Marcus Garvey, who believed he should take a more passive approach to social change.
Sometime around 1935, Powell then published his doctrine in The Promise Key, which he wrote and published under the pen name, G.G. Maragh. The book caused tensions to reach a boiling point with Jamaican authorities
In 1941, Howell was arrested for cultivating marijuana alongside yams. Seventy residents were arrested and 28 jailed under the new law; Howell was sentenced to two more years in jail. Released in 1943, he formed a corps of guardsman, some of whom grew their hair long and known as “Ethiopian warriors” or “locksman”.
Leonard Howell reformed Pinnacle in 1943. There, he set up The Pinnacle, the epicenter of the Rastafari movement, and thousands of the poorest Jamaicans flocked to his mini Rastafari nation. They were taught self-sufficiency and healthy living, which included an Ital diet, natural medicines and herbal root tonics that are still used today.
Bustamante invaded Pinnacle in 1954. The government invaded in 1958, burning all dwellings. The Police deliberately destroyed Leonard Howell’s 30 years of diaries, writings, photographs, memoirs, and letters from around the world.
Despite the attempt of the authorities to squash Howell’s work and words, their actions proved futile for an idea whose time had taken roots.
Pictures show Howell; Hope Howell, Leonard and Marcus Garvey in USA.
Neo Makeba
The entire clan of Marleys – three dozen plus – packed up and moved to Ghana about ten years ago. The family, including 37 grandchildren, lives in a huge house overlooking Accra. Rita Marley is known there as Nana Afua Addobea
“This is heaven,” she said. Since moving there, she has established a day care centre and school for children and adopted at least 30 children. She is running her Rita Marley Foundation from Accra. The Foundation is a non-governmental organisation financed with money from the Bob Marley Trust and private donations which works toward the alleviation of poverty among people of the developing countries.
The Foundation contributed to building a main road to Konkonuru; supporting the village of Fete Kekabre, on the road to the Cape Coast, with food, medicine and clothing; bringing water to Konkonuru and remodeling the basic school.
“I see myself still as a Jamaican, but Africa is our roots and I was always looking forward to this transition,” she said. “Nigeria is more like New York, but Ghana is a lot more like what we expect Africa to me.”
She has no problem adapting to the culture and customs and has been eating mostly Fufu, breadfruit, ackee and plantains. She admits that she is still having problems digesting Fufu, which tastes like cassava. The Ghanaians, she says, don’t eat ackee and were surprised to see Jamaicans taking a liking to it. And they don’t roast breadfruit, but drink it as a juice.
In fact, she says, her family has now found that a boiled “turn” breadfruit, or a ripe blended one, mixed with a Guinness and condensed milk is considered a powerful aphrodisiac.
The Marleys are so settled in Ghana that they have built a new studio there, which means they won’t have to fly back to Jamaica to do recordings. She said that the studio will not be restricted to the family, but will be open to commercial users.
“They are very musical there and they love reggae. In fact they have a radio station, Vibes FM, which is just like Irie FM: They play good reggae music all the time,” she said. BLESS!!!
Today we feature the voice of an African leader and icon H.I.M Halie Selassie 1.
He was asked by a reporter on the problem of race and color and his response ends the argument on that issue.
...”I MUST SAY THAT BLACK AND WHITE, AS FORMS OF SPEECH, AND AS A MEANS OF JUDGING MANKIND, SHOULD BE ELIMINATED FROM HUMAN SOCIETY. Human beings are precisely the same whatever colour, race, creed or national origin they may be..”
Whatever resonates with you as truth…whatever you feel in the deepest depths of your being as truth, don’t be ashamed of it. Live it! Remember that the truth don’t separate, it is not prejudice, it is what we all share in common. It does not separate past from present, it is the Unbreakable chord that connects everything that happened from the beginning of time up until this moment. It is not in my interest to suppress the truth, or deny myself the freedom of being led by feelings to please any particular group of people or any particular person on this planet. Everyone who interact with me on any level will feel loved..they will experience love because that’s all I have to give. Love and truth walks hand in hand. Don’t be afraid if the truth, at first, hits harder than you expect because after the acceptance of truth follows peace and love unconditional. I’m not afraid of hate, I’m not afraid of the judgements of this world..I was born prepared for that…and I find comfort in that confidence that good will always be victorious over evil. If I am to wake up tomorrow and nobody on this planet listens to my music anymore, nobody wants to buy a ticket to see chronixx. I will rest comfortably in the undeniable truth that chronixx is not all that there is…it is only one aspect of this being. Literally just one moment in time. I feel it is unfair to humanity to use “development” and “modernization” as a tool to undermine the natural laws of the earth and remove people from their sacred lands. It don’t feel right to me.
Love and light!
Today Sunday February 22 is the 5th annual Peter Tosh Festival at his Memorial Gardens in Westmoreland and it is simply organized with one aim which is to recognize the work of Peter Tosh and memorialize his powerful and prolific music, the man who spoke of legalizing marijuana ever since it was even politically correct to speak about legalizing this bastardized herb.
Peter, the Bush Doctor, knew from an early age that declaring marijuana as a crime was nothing more than political hogwash forced down the throat by the imperialist US government that was intentionally designed for its own gains. He recognized imperialism for what it was, the political oppression and forced mental slavery on the meek and poor, . He was the foremost preacher of equal rights and justice for all, not just for those the oppressor felt was worthy of it. As a result of his outspoken and unapologetic words , he was not the establishment’s favorite reggae artist.
That did not stop him. His music spoke what he believed and those that heard his message listened and knew that like his other musical colleague Bob, this man was no ordinary man.
“In the beginning there was the word. The word was Jah. The word is in I, Jah is in I. I make what is good, better, and what is better, best. I follow this in every aspect of life.”
– Peter Tosh
He followed his own words and delivered, song after song the same message: equal rights and legalize it. Those words that meant doing the unthinkable, removing the barriers created and opening the gates of freedom. His music was not just for listening pleasure, but for most, it was their university, the only place where music became the medium and through the tutor, the man who is considered illiterate, understood and was edified.
“If I make some music to get up and it’s not intellectually exquisite enough, then people don’t put their mind to what I’m saying. They reluctantly listen because they have ears. But some people want more; they want to learn. My music has something to teach people.” Peter Tosh, 1979.
Peter was no messiah, I liken him to John the Baptist, preaching his own gospel and setting fire to those that were the oppressors. It is interesting and somewhat symbolic that the name Peter Tosh is not officially revered in his homeland Jamaica as much as his other colleague, but it continues to speak of the character of those that hold the handle of power. Outright patronizing, granting of the OM or abject loss of memory of what Peter meant to the cultural heritage and international profile of Jamaica can only render comfort to fools. The people of Jamaica know the truth, and it will be from the people that Peter’s place in history will be cemented in perpetuity.
“I’m gonna stop singing and flash lightning and make everybody observe that who wants to criticize. Yes, everything I&I do, them just keep on criticizing, and I&I never done anything wrong.” Peter to Melody Maker, 1978
Peter has done no wrong. Like him or hate him he was special not only for Jamaica but for his people. He educated the poor man, brought life teachings for him to understand and telling the world that he, a Jamaican speaks for equal rights and justice a message that South Africa and their friends at the time, were not comfortable to hear. Peter deserves more and he will get more. He too will stand on the exalted rock of Jah Rastafari and along with Bob and their spiritual leader, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie, they will welcome those who heard their words and lived a life of self empowerment , love and personal freedom.
“Peter would probably be very interested in the political rappers remaining in the hip-hop world, hurling their accusations at the oppressor class, but I think he would be deeply frustrated by the lack of exposure that militant artistes, such as himself, still face.” –Roger Steffens
“This man and that man Yes, they are the same man You taught us this just as well That the rich man heaven is the poor man’s hell”
-Peter Tosh “Burial”
“…so I don’t count millions of papers because paper will come & paper will go but my ability & my integrity is here forever, seen. So I am more than a zillionaire.” –
Peter on self-worth, 1983.
(c) .2015- 876iconsNvoices.
Footnote:
Quotes and pictures from Peter Tosh Facebook Page. You can also get more information at his official website: PeterTosh
Ole time people have a special way of saying things that are unmistakably understood when spoken by these smart elders. “Yu tink seh mi born big” is one- don’t take me for a fool because i was not born yesterday. Here’s another- “From Whappy kill Phillup” –never knew who Whappy and Phillup were but these two sounded like enemies so you took it for granted that yes Whappy killed Phillup a long time ago. And then there’s another ” Mi say him born fi sing.” – a praise and worship terms of endearment given when they see someone perform at church and they are so good they were only born just to sing. Its Jamaican speech coined through the ages that has become a part of our verbal culture. Short, descriptive and truthful. When you hear Phil sing, you cannot help but say to yourself, this man was born to sing.
Talent is never made. It is given and the holder of the talent has 2 choices- use it or abuse it but they never loose it. Talent is a gift given to a particular individual and who was granted a vision to use it to create heaven on earth. Some see the vision, other’s don’t. Phil Watkis saw his vision and took the challenge. That challenge was simple- let your music speak to the lover, to the hopeful, to the hopeless. to the afflicted, to the loner, to the child, to the mother, to the father, to the young, to the old even to those unborn. And that he did and the Creator is pleased.
Interview with Phil Watkis- aka Ajani Gamba
1. Tell me about growing up in Jamaica?
These are some of the best days I can recall in my life, especially being born in the rural, (St Ann) in a place and time when family, self and people value were highly esteemed. This helped fostered and also instilled a high level of discipline in me as a youth, which is now a guideline for me on my journey. Life was very interesting because I grew with family members who reared cattle (Goat, Cow etc.) and had farms. This means that there was always something to do. Everyone in the village is your mom, daddy, grandma etc, which means that anyone could whoop your ass DWL. Good times, I LOVE MY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS!
Until moving in the BIG CITY (Kingston) Oh lawd ! A different ball game Every other day sounded like Christmas with fireworks (GUNS RINGING OUT) in the ghetto. I am grateful for the city regardless as it gave birth to the radicalness in my music. As a result, if I could relive my earlier years, I would relive it the same way in Jamaica.
2. Why a career in Singing?
Honestly don’t think it is a career, to me it is more like serving a higher purpose or being a voice for the voiceless. Well, if that is a career, I think this career chose me 🙂
3. Does your music gets drowned by the music of Latin America in Florida?
Reggae is a dominant sound force and we also have to remember each genre has its own market plus audience. Every other genre or artiste here in the music is trying to get a place in mainstream. Additionally, Reggae music is loved and appreciated by almost every nation. So I would say no.
4. How would you describe your music?
Inspirational. I say this because it inspires people to unite, love, rebel against oppression and also get in tuned with the higher self.
5. Everyone has some trials in the industry. Whats yours?
Finding investors who will accept the music I do without trying to get me to sing “Bubble Gum” music
6. Is the industry saturated with too much people without talent or too many producers accepting mediocrity?
A mixture of both; however, with time all that will change. Talented people like myself will have to find means and ways to get our craft out there.
7. Are you are an independent artiste and is that a security blanket for you?
I am an independent artiste because it is hard to find people who wants to promote real solid music. We are in the nursery rhyme era and because of that it forces these exploiters to promote garbage. I was told recently by a well renowned person in the industry “I don’t want to make money ten years from now, I want to make money now. ” (SMH).
8. What is the smartest thing that you did in your career to date?
Learned the business aspects of the music business.
9. Complete this sentence- THE MUSIC YOU MAKE IS MORE SUITED FOR….?
PEOPLE WHO LOVE REAL MUSIC 🙂
10. What inspires you ?
By the positive and negative, meaning I can be inspired by a great deed or action of an individual or the bad ones too. I hope that make sense DWL
11. What type of music do you listen to ?
I listen to a wide variety of music! I love my Reggae, Classic Soul and Kompa music oh gosh I LOVE THIS GENRE it is an amazing style of music out of Haiti.
12. Some people want to know, how do you write a song?
I honestly can’t put pen to paper and write like that. I see myself as an instrument just like the Guitar, if it’s not picked up and played by someone, then you won’t hear that beautiful music from it. In other words, I am driven by a higher force. Sometimes and entire song will come to me like as if it was already written. When I am forced to put lyrics like that together, it does not feel as real.
13. Do you work with a band of musicians now?
Not right now because I mostly accompany myself with the Guitar.
14. Music, movies they all come together these days. Any plans for movies?
Actually, acting was my major in performing arts school 🙂 I would definitely venture into that field if given the opportunity to do so. I love acting!
15. Has any of your music been used in any movie project?
YES!!! (LOL) I think this is one of my greatest achievement to date . I’m elated! I composed a track in 2006 Titled “KNOW MY FRIENDS” the instrumental was used in Whitney Houston Biopic which was released on January 17, 2015.
16. Would you do an out of the box strategy similar to Tessanne Chin, in order for your music to go to the level you want?
I’ve been advised to do so long before Tess but I honestly hate competing with other talents. We grow vain and bitter when we have to compare ourselves with others. Life must and will provide me with a platform to get my music out without competing. 🙂
17. If not music what would Phil be doing ?
Teaching drama and music in a primary school.
18. If there is one thing people would be surprised to know about you what would it be?
I honestly can’t find anything surprising about myself ( DWL). Honestly Ive been thinking hard to come up with sum’m 🙂 maybe our next interview I might discover new things about me (LOL).
19. Are ladies attracted by your music first or your looks first THEN your music?
I would say my looks first, and I’m not being conceited 🙂 sometimes I wonder if these women even pay attention to my music (LOL). On a serious note, if I don’t stay focus I will get distracted by all the attention from these beautiful women especially on these social media .The good thing is that they are the ones who mostly support my music.
20. When the guitar is down and you relax at home what can we expect to see you doing?
Just enjoying my beautiful family. We have games night that consists of playing dominoes, ludi and watching movies. My sons taught me a new game recently called Soccer Tennis, and I love it!! Oh and my therapy is Fishing it relaxes me, as well as tending to my backyard garden.
Phil recently released a new music with video entitle “Broken Promises”. It gives the listener a powerful and sobering insight on reality. Phil’s music spoke for the disgruntled and the voiceless, the ones that constantly pay the price of political warfare. I listened to the song and immediately it took me to the time when the great Bob Marley wrote his prophetic lyrics and preached through his music and you had no choice but to listen.
So it is with Broken Promises“. When you listen to the lyrics you feel the struggle, the pain and the countless broken promises made. Where words fail, music speaks. Charles Darwin said..
“if the misery of the poor is caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions and politics, great is our sin.”
Broken Promises is saying just that. Great is our sin as the people are in pain inflicted through broken promises. Phil is using his voice to speak where words often fail. He is the messenger speaking for the voiceless and like Bob, his music will live for eternity. It was Bob that said reggae music is the newspaper of the poor people. Yes, reggae is the newspaper of the poor and the voiceless and Phil has become its new editor.
Video: Broken Promises– by Ajani Gamba (Phil Watkis) . Find Phil Watkison Facebook: Visit his page and see his other music available on ITUNES as well.
Courtesy of Fae Ellington , the leading TV/Radio personality in Jamaica. She was the On air host for the Marley funeral and she interviewed 9 year old son of Bob Marley . Stephen Marley. Listen to this classic and exclusive interview. Voice of an Icon.
Today is the legend’s birthday. He would have been 70 years old if he were still alive. The whole world reflects on this man’s work, his only work, and that was his music.
“……Man is a Universe unto himself……” Bob Marley
As a young man I have to be honest with you. No one paid much attention to Bob Marley in Jamaica. If I could find an answer for our behavior then, looking back I would have to say we were immature and distracted by the music that drowned the rhythms of Reggae and the message of Bob. It mattered not that he was from Jamaica and the music was considered our music, as the saying says a Legend is never acknowledged in his own Country. Bob was no different. He never reached the ears of the young but like every artiste, he played his music knowing that those who heard it will be fed with fervent ‘Reggaeism‘ a name I gave the music of Bob and like ‘Catholicism” he was the chief shepherd, the musical Peter, the rock on which the Gospel of Bob was preached.
It was as if Bob was a preacher and he delivered his sermon is song, a modern day David as in the scriptures. Songs after songs, his music was like religion to the oppressed and to those whose burden was heavy and needed music as a sacrament. Bob knew that his success was not to be measured in record sales, but conversion of souls, souls that felt his music and was stirred by the message. He was that kind of a man. Bob was a prophet and we, as doubters and unbelievers, had him amongst us and did not pay attention.
…”tell the children the truth…”
…’none but ourselves can free our minds…”
…’when one door is closed, don’t you know, another is open…”
Prophetic as his words were, they were beyond the understanding of those that heard. Who would have understood what he meant when he said “tell the children the truth” or ‘none but ourselves can free our mind”? People in Jamaica only felt the music that carried the lyrics , sang the songs and repeated them as they would any song. 34 years later that message is just reaching home and now when we sing his songs, its a psalm, not just music for the ears. Its a prayer, not just a another reggae song. 34 years later the world took notice and now admits , privately or otherwise, that yes this man was a musical prophet.
Bob was in a universe all by himself. His universe was one destined by his creator and built by Bob with his musical genius , a genius that weaved words together and were spoken like a prayer with a musical intonation. That intonation , expressed through the divine rites of Rastafarianism, and through the symbolic reverence of the sacred herb of Kush, Bob’s universe was created where he lived daily and hourly, refusing to be swallowed by the distractions of the world. He was the preacher who preached and those who had ears to hear, let them hear.
Bob’s universe is real, is welcoming and its very much present 34 years after his death and today, and every day, we celebrate his music sing his lyrics and feel free. The world comes together , even for just one day, to pause and reflect on his contribution to mankind.
Great men are never respected in life, but often in death. I can say my life, 34 years later, from the time I as a young man heard his music , has been reborn. I consider my life truly blessed to have known him, seen him and heard him. Like that similar story of another prophet and healer, Bob did not feed the 5000 with fish and bread. He did one better. He fed billions of people with only his work, only his music, reaching more people than most like him and converting more people to be like him.
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