An image of
reggae musicians performing on stage, capturing Jamaican culture, Rastafari
colors, and the global spirit of reggae music.
Reggae music
is more than a genre, it is a living testimony of resilience, unity, and
spiritual awakening. Born in the streets of Kingston, Jamaica, reggae emerged
as the voice of the oppressed, the rhythm of the Rastafari movement, and the
heartbeat of a people determined to rise above struggle.
There are thousands of Africans in the Diaspora. Many hate to be called Africans, some love the continent but have never had the chance to visit there, while others frequently visit Africa. One of them was the legendary Peter Tosh, one of the founding members of the original Wailers trio.
The fearless, tough man, whose vicious wit marked militant tunes, made him an international figure, visited Africa, including Nigeria, on many occasions. I never had the opportunity to see Peter Tosh performing,,g but I had a glimpse of him when he visited Nigeria and followed his activities in the country through ‘The Punch Newspaper.’
Peter Tosh was in Nigeria in 1982. During his visit, he stayed in the house of Sonny Okosun, another great Nigerian musician interested in the well-being of people. It’s like the two had something in common. In Nigeria, Sonny Okosun’s ‘Fire in Soweto, Papa’s Land’ etc, became international hits, for his concern for the suffering South Africans under Apartheid regime.
While in Jamaica, Peter Tosh recorded ‘Apartheid’ on his ‘Equal Rights’ album. “Inna me land digs out me gold, pearl, diamond, we gonna fight against Apartheid.” It’s not surprising that the two musicians were great friends. In 1983 while still in Lagos, Peter Tosh revisited Nigeria. This time, he cemented his love for his dear Africa by composing the song he named ‘Mama Africa.’
Peter Tosh sings 'Mystery Babylon.'
“Two thousand years of history can’t be wiped away so easily, sings Bob Marley in ‘Zion Train.’ Definitely, the achievements of Peter Tosh in the field of music can’t be easily forgotten. On April 20, 2016, Jamaica celebrated the second official International Peter Tosh Day. Like the sons of Bob Marley, Andrew Tosh is carrying on the works of his father.
Music, it's like my passport and water I need daily when travelling. I can’t do
without it because it gives me inspiration. It’s great to have musicians
and players of instruments around us. Music fills the courts of heaven as
heavenly beings praise our Lord and Creator.
When God created the world, the
morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy, that’s what the
Bible says at (Job 38:7)
You will
know the I-THREES if you love music because they were highly talented
musicians supporting Bob Marley as back vocals, in the history of Jamaican
music. Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt, and Marcia Griffiths knew each other long
before they became internationally known.
Marcia
Griffithswas already a star before the group I-Threes
were formed. Her duet recordings with Bob Andy, which included “Young, Gifted
and Black,” had brought her international attention, when she invited Judy
Mowatt, who had previously sung with ‘The Gaylettes,’ and Rita Anderson, to
support her on a recording with Andy. This invitation brought the three
women together.
In Jamaica, that time was ‘The Wailers’ formed in 1963,
which was a vocal group consisting of Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, Bunny
Livingston, Bob Marley, Peter McIntosh, and Cherry Smith. Livingston later
became Bunny Wailer and McIntosh simply Peter Tosh. In 1966, Braithwaite,
Kelso and Smith left the group leaving the trio of Livingston, Marley, and
McIntosh.
Shortly after the departure of McIntosh and Livingston from
the group, Bob Marley asked the three women to sing on his recording, Jah Live.
They continued to sing for Bob Marley as back vocals for the next ten years.
Later Bob Marley married Rita Andersen, whose original country of birth
was Cuba. Surprisingly, both Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh became successful
in their solo careers.
The I-threes on stage
In early 1975, the I-Threes joined Marley for a tour as the opening act for ‘The Jackson Five.’ The I-Threes continued to sing with Bob
Marley until and after his death. But that wasn’t the end of the careers of the
women, the three pursued a successful solo career.
On May 26, 2009, the I-Threes performed with Sly Dunbar,
Robbie Shakespear, the Compass Point All-Stars and celebrated Island Records’
50th-anniversary in London at Shepherd Bush Empire. The message of The I-Threes
is one love, hope, peace, and unity to all mankind.
From left to right, Warren Weir, Usain Bolt, and Yohan Blake
Jamaica, that wonderful Island in the Caribbean, for many years has established its name as one of the best countries in the world, in regard to tourism, and above all, the home of wonderful reggae music.
Jamaica is the birthplace of great reggae stars, including Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Gregory Isaacs, Joseph Hill-Culture, to name but a few. Apart from the reggae stars, Jamaica has produced great sprinters in the past, such as Merlene Ottey, Asafa Powell, etc, yet in athletics, compared to other great countries, Jamaica wasn't classified as a great country in sports until the emergence of an unknown sprinter, Usain Bolt. Usain Bolt's unique and charismatic performance, along with teammate Yohan Blake, has firmly established that Jamaica is not only good in music but also in athletics. The 2012 Olympic Games taking place in London confirm it all. After winning the 100-meter race in 19.32 seconds, Usain became the first athlete to win two Olympic medals in the event. Yohan Blake, his training partner, also claimed silver in the event and bronze for Warren Weir. There is no doubt that Jamaicans are now doing better in sports than the United States of America, which has produced great athletes in the past. It seems underestimation of athletes from 'third world countries' is gradually coming to an end because the Jamaican sprinters are "Coming in hot! Hot! Hot! and firing some shots! Shot! shot!" Sings reggae legend late Peter Tosh.
