adminartiste by surprise, but it was largely expected by reggae followers in Zimbabwe.
After the crowd sang along to just about every song during his first few minutes on stage, the artiste stopped singing and asked a rhetoric question with a generous smile, “What is this I am seeing?”
Reggae music is clearly a big part of Zimbabwe’s social life today, as much as it has always been since the early ’60s when Jamaican youths started composing music with that distinct Caribbean beat.
Arguably, in Zimbabwe, then Rhodesia, its popularity was driven by the message encoded within the compositions.
Reggae stood for the oppressed and encouraged social, political and economic independence.
Indeed, most second Chimurenga heroes acknowledge that the music inspired them to keep fighting against the oppressive colonial system.
Songs such as Bob Marley’s “War”, or “Get up, stand up” by Peter Tosh, and numerous others by pre-independence reggae stars like Bunny Wailer, Burning Spear, Culture, Ijahman Levy and Don Carlos oiled the hearts and souls of Zimbabwe’s liberators.
It was perhaps fitting that Cocoa Tea opened his set with Bob Marley’s “Zimbabwe”.
Shows in the country by Capleton, TOK, Beenie Man, Sean Paul and Sizzla also provided evidence that Zimbabweans love reggae.
Earlier shows by Shabba Ranks, Buju Banton, Bob Marley, Culture, Gregory Isaacs, Third World, UB40, King Sounds, Maxi Priest, Ijahman, Aswad and Misty Roots were greeted with similar euphoria.
Despite its popularity, there are no authentic reggae compact discs (CDs) or videos, or any other products on the Zimbabwean market.
Reggae lovers continue to either download their favourite songs from the Internet or buy pirated versions on the Internet, depriving the reggae stars of revenue.
This is different from what the local music industry is going through in that the authentic reggae vibe is not available on the market and this leaves the fans with no option.
Music marketers and record companies should strike deals with the artistes to guarantee that Zimbabwean reggae lovers get an opportunity to legally listen to their heroes and support them financially too.
Zimbabwe has the potential to be a big reggae market; even larger than Jamaica’s, given that the Caribbean country has a population of about two million only.
An important point to note is that, though Zimbabweans are head over hills for reggae music they cannot all be classified as Rastafarians.
Rastafarianism is a religion that believes the last Ethiopian Emperor, Haile Selassie is the anointed Messiah, as prophesised by Jamaican Marcus Garvey in the early 1900s. Rastafarians do not smoke commercial cigarettes, eat meat or consume alcohol.
Garvey’s basic idea was that freedom and redemption for blacks would only be found in Africa because European colonisation and slavery had fragmented the African culture and spirituality.
He argued that as long as blacks remained outside Africa, they would continue to be afflicted by a “slave mentality” which would prevent them from achieving the true greatness which they deserve.
The same message is reflected in reggae songs that view Africa as the ideal dwelling place for all Africans, those at home and those abroad.
A tiny portion of reggae music lovers I have met identifies itself as true Rastafarians, while others fall into either of two categories.
One group likes the reggae beat or the message, but disassociate itself from the religious aspect of the music.
The other identifies with the culture and even don the famous red, green and gold colours but do not practise Rastafarianism in the strictest of senses.
The last group forms the majority of Zimbabwean reggae lovers.
On Saturday, they came out in full force, consuming tonnes of beer and eating roasted meat that was available around the ground.
What binds the three categories besides their common love for the reggae beat is their appreciation of the message in the songs.
Reggae preaches love, peace and understanding.
Whether or not people love reggae for religious purposes is irrelevant; stakeholders in Zimbabwe need to take advantage of its popularity and identify opportunities for both the Jamaican artists and for the Zimbabwean market. Engaging the artists as a part of our community also opens opportunities for local fashion, graphic, sound and stage designers to work closely with internationally-acclaimed stars.
There are opportunities too for political movements whose messages mirror those in reggae songs, to work in partnerships with the Jamaicans.
Both Cocoa Tea and Fantan Mojah sang praises to His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe and on the other hand condemned Western leaders.
Fantan went further by declaring, “Obama may be a black man, but he is a bomboclat!”
Reggae musicians continue to push for political and economic independence.
It would be helpful to their cause if movements like Zanu-PF or the Government engages the Jamaican singers on important national commemorative days such as Independence Day, Unity Day, or Heroes’ Day.
The musicians view Africa as their home and they would treat invitations to such events with great respect.
The messages in reggae music are so relatable to the Zimbabwean experiences that local listeners feel as though they are tailor-made for them.
Zimbabweans who bring the artistes over must ensure the gap between the artistes and their supposed home, Africa, is reduced so that both sides reap benefits from a beat made famous all over the world by those dreadlocked, pot-smoking, but humble and relatable reggae artistes.
Online Reporter