Kayanne Taylor (left) and Nardia McKenzie make a fashion statement, 'We are hot', though it was cold at Strawberry Hill. Whoever it was that coined the phrase 'A king has no honour in his own country', never heard of the island of Jamaica and its musical king, Robert Nesta Marley!
To be sure, there were mean and lean tamarind days when the late iconic superstar and the religious order that he trumpeted were frowned upon as sub-cultural riff-raff that ought to be persecuted at any cost.
And in that context, it was a time that the populace largely frowned upon any thing, idea or movement that was national in its origin, as against the existing social practice of aping the social practices of the colonials and their representatives.
And so, Bob Marley, his religion and music were viewed as pariahs, because they advocated physical and mental liberation and the universality of the struggle of man, the individual, to assert his freedom. Those who identified with the ruling classes and their interests found Bob Marley and what he represented odious. But that was back in the day, and really, the first steps on his journey to his coronation as King of Reggae, and First Disciple and High Priest of Rastafari.
Indeed, the king had arrived and his people, downtrodden for so long, were more than ready to proclaim him majesty. His music, not unlike the scriptural doctrines of Christianity, their primary 'weapon' of conquest!
To be sure, there were enclaves that resisted, but they, too, got absorbed by the universality of his acceptance, as Marley, the religion he espoused and the music he chanted, were gifts embraced by the world. Upon his death, even those who had reservations about his musical message and religion reluctantly embraced him. To do otherwise would have been to appear truly reactionary - not hip - and so the bandwagon effect kicked into overdrive!
Blackwell's role
The role of Chris Blackwell sometimes gets overlooked, but it was his vote of confidence and embrace of Marley and his music that propelled him from the haunting ghettos of Kingston into his own kingdom. Fitting then, that on the commemoration of the 63rd anniversary of the birth of Marley, there was a governmental decree that the month of his birth be Reggae Month.
Also fitting that the official commemorative celebration to mark the occasion was under the auspices of Chris Blackwell, at his internationally renowned Strawberry Hill Boutique Hotel and Spa, located in Irish Town, in the foothills of St Andrew.
Hosted two Wednesday nights ago, on February 6, the affair was, as expected, grand. The grassy courtyard of the famed hotel was decorated with a number of marquees to house hospitality, libations and culinary fares, creating a village that really was a stroke of genius, warming the very bones from the winds rushing down from the Blue Mountains.
Hosted under the theme 'The Natural Mystic', the celebrations were a culinary and musical treat that saw guests jetting in from all over the world to join in and witness the celebrations.
Winding roads
It was a fine outing too for the many nationals who braved the winding roads leading up to the famed hotel, along with members of the international media, who shared in some arrestingly moving performances by Lloyd Parkes and his We The People band; Lymie Murray, the stunning Ashley Martin in full musical flight; Africa's hottest singing sensation - Angelique Kidjo, and to top it all, reggae's reigning empresses, Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt (The I-Three). But my dears, the discovery of the occasion was the awesomely talented songbird, Etana. Oh my word, can the young lady sing or what!
Luvs, it was fitting that on the day of the celebration of the birthday of reggae's greatest exponent, its most prodigious talent was one of those honouring him with her amazing gift of song!
musical salutations
Tommy Cowan, along with Camille Mullings, took charge of the night's musical salutations and cake-cutting ceremony. Jonathan and Paula Surtees were the perfect hosts.
Those spotted were: Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Mrs Golding; Information, Culture and Sports Minister Olivia Grange; Spanish Ambassador Jesús Silva; celebrated actor and social activist Danny Glover; the electrifying singer Angelique Kidjo, James Earl, Jennifer Lim, Ian Kelly, Sally Henzel and son Jason Henzel; Samuel Clayton; Duckie Simpson; Leslie Chang and his fabulous wife, Deidre Hart Chang, Ali McNab, David and Liz Hall, Colin Leslie, Vivien Goldman, Del Crooks, Hugh Stockton, DCP Mark Shields and Emily Crooks, Clifton Dillon, Jenny Woods, Mark Croskery, Bridgette Anderson, Jon Baker and his lovely companion Nordia Witter, Silvera Castro, the illustrious Sharon Burke, Brian St Juste, Nathalie Thompson, Alistair McBeth, Jennifer Armond, Carlene Davis Cowan, Pliers, from the duo Shaka Demus and Pliers, Tarrus Riley, Albarossi, the lovely Cathy Snipper, Suzie Berry, Kimani and Terri-Kaye Robinson,Kevin Clarke, the fab Tabitha Athey, Chris Daley and Donisha Prendergast, Dawn Heron, Christopher Shakelford, Meg Friedman, André Grange, plus many others.
The Craighton All-Age dance group celebrate Bob Marley's 63rd birthday.
From left, Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt and Rita Marley hang out before their performance at Bob Marley's birthday celebration. -photos by Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
