I remember when we used to sit/ In the government yard in Trenchtown…/ And then Georgie would make the fire lights/ And it was logwood burnin’ through the nights/ Then we would cook cornmeal porridge/ Of which I’ll share with you…

These days, people in Trenchtown, a gritty, violence-wracked district of Kingston, don’t gather around logwood fires, sup on communal broth and sing songs any longer.

Life has moved on in Bob Marley country.

But 26 years after the death of the reggae superstar, Trenchtown, which gave birth to reggae music and its legend, is trying to showcase its most prominent resident’s legacy.

It is all happening in the “government yard”, the public housing project where Marley lived and which he sang about famously in his songs.

This was also where he wrote his first songs, learnt to play the guitar, met fellow musicians like Peter Tosh and went on to form the Wailers, reggae’s most famous band. He also travelled to a studio from the ghetto to record their first album, Catch A Fire.

This yard – a warren of 16 cramped rooms where Marley and his friends lived – are being restored by Jamaican architect Christopher Whyms-Stone with help from donations from the British, German, Canadian and American embassies.

Marley memorabilia have been put up in the rooms, the interiors have given up a fresh lick of paint and the legend’s first guitar is also on display.

In the singer’s impossibly small home with a concrete kitchen counter and a small bed, there is a fraying poster of the Wailers.

Even his beat-up 1970 Volkswagen, which was rescued from the detritus with graffiti reading “Live and let others live” intact on its windows, may be repaired and retro-fitted by the German automobile maker.

“Marley and his fellow residents hardly lived in their one-room homes. They would only sleep in the room at night. The rest of the time they would spend time outside with neighbours. They lived in the verandas, courtyards and streets and mingled with the people,” said Mr Whyms-Stone.

Social engineering

It is not easy to attract visitors to the “culture yard”, as the Marley home is now called.

Trenchtown’s image as a violent neighbourhood in crime-ridden Kingston scares away most tourists, who would otherwise like to make the place their main stop on the Bob Marley memory lane trip.

“The problem is wooing the local tour operators to come to the area. The way to counter [the image] is through reducing crime and by massive advertising,” says Mr Whyms-Stone.

Marley lived in one of Jamaica’s most ambitious social engineering exercises – a cluster of homes with cedar doors and windows and gable roofs built around courtyards with communal bathrooms – all to encourage a thriving, but orderly community life.

Residents of the yard, set up in the early 1940s, had to abide by stern laws. You could not display or keep poultry in a cage, cut down fruit trees or let bathwater run into the area.

The community thrived in the yards and spawned great talent. Reggae pioneer Joe Higgs, West Indian cricketer Collie Smith, Rastafarian elder Mortimer Planno, black nationalist William Grant and a host of cracking musicians, including Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, lived and worked here.

Old-timers here still fondly remember Marley, who died of cancer in 1981, as a man who put a run-down Jamaican neighbourhood on the world map.

They tell stories of how he played football when he was not singing, how he drove around with fellow Rastafarians in his Volkswagen, how he would return to the ghetto with bagfuls of money to distribute after he found money and fame.

Spiritual legacy

The most popular of all stories involves Vincent Ford aka Tarta, the legend’s childhood friend who ran a soup kitchen in Trenchtown.

People in Trenchtown believe that Tarta not only taught Bob how to play the guitar but also wrote the words to No Woman No Cry, about their time in the yard.

Others, including many critics, say Marley credited Tarta with the words, so that his friend, disabled and ravaged by diabetes, could fend for himself all his life.

Trenchtown old-timer and Marley pal Cutty, who runs a stew and fish house, remembers the time when the singer would play football in the evening every evening.

“If he hadn’t become a singer, he would have definitely become a great footballer,” he says.

Across town, every year some 2,500 people visit Marley’s posh-looking colonial bungalow, with latticed windows and marble stairway, which has been turned into a museum. They also buy T-shirts at the souvenir shop and snack on Ethiopian food.

Here, Marley rehearsed five albums and even survived an assassination attempt. His musician children continue to record at the in-house studio.

But Trenchtown remains the place where Marley’s spiritual legacy is truly alive and well. The yard, set in bleak surroundings, receives at least 50 tourists a month without any advertising.

As old-timers say, the ghetto gave Marley the real vibe. As he sings in Trenchtown Rock: “One good thing about music, when it hits, you feel no pain… /Hit me with music now, oh now, hit me with music now.”

Source: BBC News

Morgan Heritage, known to masses as the best live reggae band, visited New York City Tuesday, June 19th and Wednesday, June 20th for a press photo shoot and to add the finishing touches to their new album, “Mission In Progress,” in stores September 18th. The members of Morgan Heritage couldn’t have chosen a more fitting title for their latest album. Taken from one of the album’s songs, “Mission in Progress” couldn’t better encapsulate where the famed sibling group is at the moment: in transition.

“The main point in Mission in Progress,” says Gramps, “is that we’re on a musical mission, trying to take reggae to the next level, and put our stamp, and mark our history in reggae. Yeah, a lot of reggae bands have been here, and have come and gone. And there’s a lot coming, a lot here: There’s reggae bands from all over the world. You got German reggae bands, Italian reggae bands, Canadian reggae bands, Brazilian reggae bands. So what does Morgan Heritage bring to the table? We bring reggae music that rocks.”

Mission in progress

Headline Fi Frontpage

While it has been reported that reggae stars, Beenie Man, Sizzla and Capleton have all signed the Reggae Compassionate Act, which renounces homophobia and violence against lesbians and gays, other artistes have shown no compassion for the act, as they say it is not representative of their music and/or beliefs and therefore will not sign.

“It don’t affect me, dat don’t represent me. A nuff show me do an nuh sign it yet, dem ting a jus fi suppress di music. Me is a yout from morning mi mek my message very clear. Rastafari is the ruler of the world, Compassionate Act deh pon dem own,” singer Tarrus Riley said.

Freddy McGregor, one of the more established reggae artistes in the business says his biggest problem with the act is that it is misleading and misinformed.

“Di part a it weh me nuh really into is that dah act deh haffi guh re-write. Jamaica has developed two genres of music, reggae and dancehall. Wi all embrace dancehall, because is a part of our culture, but di problem is dat it seems like every time there is a problem wid di dancehall community, dem waan get reggae involved an eradicate. But there is no reggae artiste signature there, and mi nuh hear nuh gay a advocate ‘gainst we. Me want dem people deh fi first an foremost change di word ‘reggae’ to ‘dancehall’,” he says.

The section of the act that McGregor is referring to reads, ‘We the artistes of the reggae community, hereby present this letter as a symbol of our dedication to guiding principles of reggae’s enduring foundation, ‘one love’. Throughout time, reggae has been recognized as a healing remedy and an agent of positive social change. We will continue this proud and righteous tradition.’

McGregor says, “Dem haffi mek a differentiation, cause dat would a include me inna di ting, an me an my peers nuh have no bangarang wid nobody suh how we a get drawn in? It look like a deliberate ploy fi get rid a reggae an a from long time dem a try.”

As it relates to the dancehall artistes who have already signed, McGregor says, “If di artiste dem really sign dis ting, dem a guh back pon dem original word, cause dem done did come out a hit out hard against di gay and lesbian community, suh fi buil up di whole vibe an now come back come apologize, it really nuh mek nuh sense.”

International dancehall group T.O.K says they are by no means compassionate towards such an Act either, as they feel it is not representative of them and have therefore come up with their own contract.

Craig T says, “while we do agree with some of the statements made in the Reggae Compassionate Act, it is not a hundred per cent representative of the group (TOK) and we refuse to put our signature to anything we will not abide by“.

Members of T.O.K say they feel they were being forced into something. Bay C says, “I never like the fact that they were already attacking us about it even before we signed or knew about it. Is like they were trying to pressure us into signing an wi nuh compassionate.”

However, Craig T says, it’s not that they are rejecting the Act, “I wouldn’t say reject, but revise.” A section of T.O.K’s revised Act reads, ‘It is the view of T.O.K, and we are confident that several members of the reggae community and the worldwide musical community would agree, that in addition to the many positive beliefs outlined in the document to which we subscribe, the right to freedom of speech and artistic expression is of equal importance and should not be marginalized.’

It continued, ‘T.O.K therefore sees the ‘Reggae Compassionate Act’ not as a definitive document on these issues, but as a doorway to greater dialogue, where all points of view on the issues raised therein can be heard and respected without the fear of sanctionÉ’

Flexx, however had a few harsh words for those artistes who have already signed this Act. “Even the fact that some artistes already sign it, wi need fi come together an have one voice, cause a dat dem a use, wi disunity,” he said.

The Reggae Compassionate Act was a deal brokered with top reggae promoters and Stop Murder Music activists, which required that ‘Artistes of the Reggae Community respect and uphold the rights of all individuals to live without fear of hatred and violence due to their religion, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or gender.’

Source: Jamaica Star

Sizzla’s tenth album for the London-based Greensleeves Records is now available. Titled I-Space, the 15-track disc features mainly production work from In the Streetz Records head honcho Byron Murray.

Sizzla emerged on the musical landscape during the latter half of the 1990s; the enormously prolific singer was one of the leaders of the conscious dancehall movement. His music was generally positive, advocating faith, compassion for poor black youth, and respect for women. A versatile singjay-style vocalist with a gruff, gravelly tone, he has charted an impressive array of hits over the years including chart toppers such as Karate, Black Woman And Child, Thank You Mama, Just One Of Those Days and Ain’t Gonna See Us Fall , among others.

I-Space features songs such as Really And Truly, Irresistible, Long Live The King Of Kings, Make Me Yours, Chant Dem Down, Show Some Love, Only Jah Alone, The Woman In My Life, Nothing But Love and Put the People Interest First.

Gyptian is back with Live Right

Not much has been heard from Gyptian since he topped the charts a few months ago with My Father Say. However, he is back in hit mode with his latest single, Live Right, which is featured on the Graduation In Zion rhythm from the Lone Lions imprint.

Also featured on this project are Shoot First Ask Questions After by Capleton, Blind Souls by Roberto Sanchez, Woman A Di Yard by Thriller U and Philip Frazer, Graduation In Zion by Kiddus I, and My Love Is Burning by Mark Wonder.

The Reggae Box Project distribution at 58 Dumbarton Ave is responsible for distribution.

One Third’s Baby Boo is now available on single

Baby Boo, the romantic lovers rock ballad from 2006 Digicel Rising Stars winners One Third is finally on vinyl. The song is featured on the Bad Wolf label’s Mikaela rhythm.

Money by Junior X, You’re the Sun by Mr Perfect and Cassanova, Love Is Not A Toy by Skatta, My Love You by Christopher Martin and Dreaming About You by Ice Man, are all featured on the Mikaela rhythm.

Additionally, there is the Energize rhythm various artistes compilation disc which is available on the Amplex production label. Among the artistes featured are Buju Banton, Sizzla, Capleton, Vybz Kartel, Bounty Killer, Mavado, Mad Cobra, Turbulence, and others. The aforementioned have been released by All Access Entertainment.

Energy Beat releases the 3 Star rhythm

The 3 Star rhythm on the Right label is available from Energy Beat productions. There are songs from Munga, Beenie Man, Vybz Kartel, Turbulence, Wayne Marshall, Elephant Man and Dadda.

Source: Jamaican Observer

Brown and the Caribbean

Former Commonwealth Secretary-General and Caribbean Community negotiator, Sir Sridath Ramphal, says he hopes that the new Gordon Brown administration in Britain will show greater awareness of Caribbean issues.

Sir Shridath said that the years of Mr Brown’s predecessor Tony Blair were not very productive for Caribbean-UK relations.

He said that, as Gordon Brown flags a time of change, it could be a time for an improvement in British-Caribbean relations.

Youth charge in St Lucia

A 15 year old boy has been charged in connection with the murder of a senior public officer in St. Lucia.

The arrest and the killing have sent shock waves through the island.

Five youngsters, all under 20 years old, have been arrested so far following the murder of Marcia Philbert Jools, a Permanent Secretary in St Lucia’s Planning ministry.

The Grenadian-born victim had been found lying in a pool of blood at her home in Castries on Monday after being stabbed.

Haiti strike impact

A two-week old week pay strike by janitors and support staff has forced Haiti’s largest hospital to turn away patients.

Officials said that although doctors and nurses are not taking part in the protest.

However, garbage piling up inside Port-au-Prince’s General Hospital has made it impossible to practice medicine.

Banana complaint

Panama is the latest country to register a complaint against the European Union’s banana import regime at the World Trade Organization.

The system currently offers a measure of protection to traditional suppliers from the Caribbean.

Panama and other Latin American countries say the EU’s banana entry tariff is way too high.

Ecuador, the world’s leading banana exporter, filed the substantive challenge last December.

Source: BBC News

(New York, NY//Kingston, JA) 25, June 2007) Buju Banton is hotter than July! The dancehall- reggae icon has been tapped to open Chicago’s 15th Annual African Caribbean International Festival Of Life (www.festivaloflife.com), a five day extravaganza that celebrates the diversity of Chi-Town with music, food, arts and crafts, attracting over 150,000 people from a growing variety of cultures each year.

“Chicago will never ever see another event like this when Buju Banton touches the stage on the 4th of July,” promises Ephraim Martin, the Festival’s producer. “This show will be the kind of spiritually enriching family event that everyone can appreciate because we’re talking about independence through the eyes of Buju Banton. It is not just the talk of the town–it’s the talk of the country!”

On July 6th, Buju Banton and his Shiloh Band kick off the highly anticipated Too Bad Canadian Tour in London, Toronto, the first of six dates in the area. This is the first time Banton will tour parts of the country in support of his critically acclaimed Too Bad album, which was released in Canada last October. Gargamel Music artist New Kidz is on deck as the opener. For additional tour dates log on to www.myspace.com/bujubanton

On Friday July 20th, the Banton is back home to headline Evolution Night of the 15th Annual Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest (www.reggaesumfest.com) in Montego Bay Jamaica. Hosted by Elise Kelly of Irie FM, the Evolution Night will also feature a tribute to reggae music legends Frankie Paul, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Admiral Bailey, Gem Myers, Ernie Smith and Pluto Shervington.

Reports from the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) are that on Monday at about 5:45 am, a Toyota Corolla motor car, registered 6627 EM, was travelling along the Hellshire main road towards the beach. It is said that the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a utility pole. The injured three were rushed to the Spanish Town Hospital where the singer was pronounced dead.

“Last year she won the Red Stripe, Irie FM Big Break contest, said the late singer’s manager Stephen Greg, “she’s a regular here and she loves Jamaica”. He told the Observer that Natasja was scheduled to fly back to Denmark on Friday and was only visiting to put some finishing touches on her album.

“She was doing some work on her album with Sly and Robbie, Arif Cooper and she had done collaborations with Ninja Man, Lady G, among others,” Greg shared.

Her friend ‘Lady G’ is deeply saddened, admitting that she could not fathom her death after seeing her mere minutes before the accident.

“Everytime it come ‘cross me mind, but me jus’ cyaan believe seh Natasja gone,” the female performer shared. ‘Lady G’ noted that she had called up Natasja during a group performance with Macka Diamond and Queen Paula at “Nuffy’s show”.

At the same time, the veteran act said that she is trying to be optimistic about her friend’s passing.

“Me jus’ a look pon it from a positive angle…at least me did get fe spend the last couple hours wid har.”

Irie FM marketing director Brian Schimdt expressed similar sentiments, adding that the news put a “damper on everybody [at Irie FM]“. He noted that because of the association with last year’s competition, he came to know the late singer as, “bubbly and engaging”. He added that the singer had recently stopped by the radio station to drop off new music and have everyone know what new projects she was working on.

“She was in the prime of her career,” Greg said, adding that the driver of the vehicle had fled the scene but has turned him self in yesterday morning.

“The police are doing investigations as to what state he was in when the accident happened, right after the accident he was missing and I think that ought to be questioned,” Greg said.

Source: Jamaican Observer

Some of the top dancehall producers are featured including the likes of Lloyd ‘King Jammy’ James, Daniel ‘Blaxx’ Lewis, Donovan Bennett and Byron Murray.

Dancehall fanatics who crave for the slackness that ran unchecked on the dancehall scene, will find favour with songs including Needle Eye by Shabba Ranks, She’s A Ho by Mr Vegas, Brain Damage by Ward 21, Red Red Red by Beenie Man and Robyn, Good Hole by Lexxus, Give It To Me by Ce’Cile, Sweet To The Belly by Vybz Kartel, Breast Specialist by Vybz Kartel and Beenie Man, Tekk by Vybz Kartel, Saadda Dem and Sen on Heng On by Bounty Killer, Agony by Busy Signal, Sitten Tight by Mad Cobra and More Punanny by Dr Evil.

Top acts swarm the Sleeveless rhythm

All Access is responsible for the distribution of the Sleeveless rhythm. The singles are available on the Phantom Music imprint.

Old school singer and one time Third World member Prilly Hamilton is featured with the song You and I, while a remix on the flip side features Shaka Pow. Jimmy Riley croons on Win Your Love for Me, while Singing Melody gets into the groove on Talk About Love.

Johnny Johnson offers All About Me, while Richie Spice blazes on Fire. Endlessly features Phillip Frazer, while Christine Salmon takes a big risk on Let’s Start Over. Natural Black toasts with ease on Jah We Praise. Sunshine simmers for Carl Morrison, and Alpha Rowen delivers Tell Me Tell Me.

New titles at Reggae Box Project distribution

Now in stock at the Reggae Box Project Distribution (Cap Calcini Co Ltd) are the titles from the La Familia West imprint.

Included are Don’t Stop Trying by Anthony B, Foolish Advice by Beenie Man, Getting Rough by Ras I Sha, Keep Us Strong by Chezidek, Ego by Etana, Taking My Time by Harmony, Strive by Mikey General, Serve Jah More by Luciano and Fi Real by Lutan Fyah.

Downsound Records releases the Bass rhythm

New from Downsound Records is the Bass rhythm. This features Mi Salt by I Maroon, Girls Dem Baby by Nanko, Heart Breaker by Harry Toddler, and How Could You by newcomer Natalie.

Energy Beat is handling distribution of the aforementioned titles.

Source: Jamaican Observer

ARTISTE: Various RELEASE DATE:June 12 2007 Label:VP Records

VP Records adds another notch to their successful running series with the recent release of Reggae Gold 2007: Treasure of the Caribbean. The compilation features a fusion of current hits from both the heavy hitters of Dancehall and Roots Reggae to the Newcomers.

The album commences with a somewhat unsurprising, yet not disappointing, “Watch Them Roll” by Sean Paul. The two follow up tracks however, are sure fire hits, from rising star, extraordinaire Mavado with “Top Shotta Nah Miss” on POWERCUT rhythm and “Last Night”. The equally impressive, Munga, who is also a newcomer, scores big with the hit “Bad From Mi Born”. The album would not be complete without veterans Elephant Man with “Bring It”; Bunju Banton with “Bobby Reds” and Morgan Heritage with “Brooklyn And Jamaica” who all deliver excellent selections of Roots Reggae in a fashion that would suit every hardcore reggae fan.

Two must listen to, OonuCulture highly recommended, on the Reggae Gold album: I Wayne’s very sentimental “Need Her In My Arms” and “Sticky” which is laid over the latest JAMDOWN rhythm from the very talented, Jah Cure, with his classical Roots Reggae signature vocals.

Also included is the now VP Records customary DVD. This combination should delight and entertain both the casual and hardcore reggae fan.

Grenada 13 re-sentencing continues

The re-sentencing hearing of the so-called Grenada 13 has entered its second week with the prosecution continuing to put its case that those convicted of murder in a 1983 coup should be given life imprisonment.

Earlier the defendants appealed for leniency.

The Privy Council overturned their original death sentences because mandatory application of the capital sentence was subsequently deemed unconstitutional.

The commuting of the sentences to life was also deemed invalid and re-sentencing ordered.

Montserrat marks 10 years since major eruption

It is the tenth anniversary of the volcanic eruption that killed 20 people in Montserrat, the single biggest disaster since Soufriere Hills became active again.

Scientists are also expected this week to present the island’s government with the latest assessment of the volcano.

Based on their findings, the government will decide whether to shift the boundary that separates the safe zone from the danger zone.

St. Lucia electricity workers still on strike

The government of St. Lucia has intervened to try to end a strike at the island’s power company.

More than half of the workforce at the power company – Lucelec – went on strike last week to back demands for a ten percent increase in pay. The company is offering half of that.

Public Utilities Minister Guy Joseph says a cabinet-appointed committee has met with both sides separately, and he hopes the dispute can be resolved soon.

Jamaica’s PM keeps voters guessing

The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Portia Simpson Miller, has refused to give any hint as to when she might call general elections.

However, she says the time is drawing nigh – an acknowledgment that she must call a vote by October.

Mrs Portia Simpson Miller called an emergency meeting of the ruling People’s National Party over the weekend, fueling speculation that she would announce a July election date.

Recent opinion polls have suggested that the prime minister and her party are leading the opinion polls ahead of the opposition labor party.

Mrs Simpson-Miller dampened the July date speculation by saying she would call elections when she thought the time was right.

Bakr trial stayed

A high court judge in Trinidad has agreed to a three month stay in the sedition trial of the leader of the Jamaat al Muslimeen group, Yasim Abu Bakr.

Mr. Bakr has been charged with sedition, incitement, and terrorism arising out of a speech in 2005, to mark Eid celebrations.

The judge’s decision to postpone the trial follows local and overseas reports linking the Jamaat group to an alleged plot to blow up the John F. Kennedy airport in New York. The group has denied any connection.

Mr. Bakr’s lawyers wanted the sedition case thrown out, arguing that the publicity would make it impossible for him to get a fair trial.

But the judge said the defense’s case was not strong enough to grant a permanent stay.

The case is now set for September 18.

UN says drugs market remains stable

The annual World Drug Report by the United Nations says the overall market for cocaine and marijuana worldwide has remained relatively stable over the past years.

The UN document stated the estimated level of global drug use has remained more or less unchanged for the third consecutive year.

It says fifty eight percent of the global seizures of cocaine took place in Latin America and the Caribbean — a region it warns will continue to be caught up in the drugs cross-fire.

Marijuana still represents the largest illicit drug market by far with an estimated 160 million users worldwide.

The UN is also reporting an increase in seizures of drugs in transit. It said 45 per cent of all cocaine being shipped is now intercepted.

Cuban dissidents launch campaign

A prominent dissident group in Cuba has launched a new campaign to push for constitutional reforms.

The campaign is the latest in a series of calls for political and economic changes by opposition groups on the island since Cuban leader Fidel Castro fell ill almost 11 months ago.

The most recent push is led Oswaldo Paya.

Five years ago he gathered 25 thousand signatures calling for a referendum on civil liberties that became known as the Varela Project.

The new project, dubbed the Cuban Campaign Forum, urges Cubans of all political stripes to join forces to demand free elections for a Constituent Assembly that would amend the constitution.

Organizers plan to spread the news by word of mouth since opposition groups do not have access to the Cuban media.

Source: BBC News