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Sifelani Tsiko
Innovations Editor
The African continent is particularly distinct and has several countries that one can visit in a lifetime.
And for the iconic global reggae singer – songwriter Cocoa Tea, best known for his 90s hit song Riker’s Island who died aged 65 on March 11 after suffering a cardiac arrest in a hospital in Florida, Zimbabwe was his number one destination as a first – timer to the continent.
When he visited the country for a performance at the 2011 Lion Lager Summer Beer Fest at Glamis Stadium, he was particularly touched by the country’s boundless hospitality and untapped beauty.
“For the people of South Africa, I have never seen it yet. Isn’t it crazy?
“Actually, I have only been to one country in Africa through my singing, one country in Africa and that’s Zimbabwe.
“Could you really believe that Cocoa Tea hasn’t been to anywhere in Africa besides Zimbabwe,” he said in an interview following the death of South Africa’s first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela in 2013.
The reggae singer, born Colvin Scott, was passionate about African unity and repatriation.
“Being the son of a slave, our ancestors came from Africa. We belong to Africa but we were taken from Africa by our slave masters and sent to where I would like to call it, to the ‘Carry – beyond.’
“Now people call it the – Caribbean, I had to say ‘Carry-beyond’ because it was far away from our land,” he said.
“Our ancestors mean so much to us. Our identity, our past lead us to our future and if there is no Africa, there is no future for I man.
“So repatriation means so much to me because I would like to go back to my mama land, to be with my tribe and my people and to be able to know where I am truly from.
“You know it burns my heart every day when I don’t know what tribe I am from, which village my tribe are from and where my ancestors are from.”
His genuine love for Zimbabwe shone through as he spoke glowingly about the country as a key marker in his musical career.
“The highlight must be the time I went back home to Zimbabwe and to see the reception I received from the people of Zimbabwe.
“It was overwhelming. It touched my heart, tears came from my eyes to know that I am finally on the side of my mama land and to see all the people responding with love,” he said.
“They love us so much that I can’t even talk about it. It is crazy to know that the people have so much love for us. I haven’t seen this yet.
“I am just thinking of people in Ghana, Botswana and Kenya, and places like Namibia, and places like Gambia, South Africa and all those places who have never seen me yet.”
Cocoa Tea’s electric performance in Zimbabwe touched the hearts of reggae music lovers and the local Rastafari community.
His presence here solidified his place on the global musical arena.
The reggae star’s death shocked many in Zimbabwe and left his fans in mourning.
Tributes are pouring in various social media reggae platforms, with many expressing their condolences and gratitude for Cocoa Tea’s music in his life.
Many are celebrating the rich legacy he leaves behind, a legacy of melody, compassion, and cultural pride.
Many took to their social media accounts to express their sorrow and pay tribute.
“Dark moment for reggae fans. I will always cherish the day I met the legendary Jamaican musician Colvin George Scott aka Cocoa Tea,” said Classic263 reggae producer and presenter Terry Mapurisana.
“It was a great opportunity to share reggae notes with the iconic bredda when he visited Zimbabwe.
“I was one of those few journalists who were afforded the opportunity to interview Cocoa Tea. Deepest condolences to his family and all reggae fans.” Said one reggae fan from Tafara: “Thank you Cocoa Tea for your amazing music that had a great impact on my life. Rest in power my icon.”
Reggae music lover and Bless It Up bus operator Absolom Muyambiri has so many memories of Cocoa Tea during his youth and when he attended the show by the reggae star in 2011.
“My memories about Cocoa Tea are much more about his songs we listened to in the 1990s during dancehall shows at a club called Rumours.
“We used to call it the ‘Agony Centre’ and Cocoa Tea’s music was part of my youth,” he said.
“When he came to Zimbabwe, I enjoyed his show. It was massive. It reminded me of my youthful days when we were growing up in Tafara listening to his powerful reggae tunes.
“He is one great artist from Jamaica I admired. His death is a huge loss, he had a great voice.
“No one can replace that great voice.
“I am mourning the loss of one of the finest voices.”
Online Reporter