It's a big world out there and a lot is going on! Reggae Festival Guide asked folks to share how reggae has touched their lives.
"One of my greatest memories was being called on stage by the one and only Shaggy, Mr. Boombastic. Before the show, my cousin and I were so excited over seeing him. We knew we would be on the side of the stage because of my dad's work and we kept saying, 'We get to see Shaggy!' So I was beside myself when he pulled me to the front and started dancing with me. All the cameras were flashing, it was real loud and I could see the balconies and all the people on the floor dancing! Being with Shaggy onstage was one of the best days I've ever had! It was also very special to me because it was on stage in front of so many people and Bob Marley's birthday is so important. Mom told me she did not know what was going on until she heard the crowd start screaming and then she saw me up there on the big TV screens! I also went backstage with Shaggy to meet the rest of the band - was that cool or what?! So to all you fans out there, Shaggy is definitely Mr. Boombastic!"
"My reggae memory is short, but sweet. When I appeared in Peru at the Mama Cona in October 2002, many youth came out to the show. I was pleased to see many of them singing along to "Satta Massa Gana" in English and I knew then that reggae is truly the universal message."
"I spotted Bonnie Raitt's fiery tresses from across the field at Reggae in the Park, 2002. Not too far away, Jr. Toots was near the stage at Sharon Meadow in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, waiting to perform with his father, the legendary Frederick "Toots" Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals. My friends and I thought it would be a great idea if the rising reggae star and the blues/pop legend could come together for a snapshot. When we introduced Jr.Toots to Bonnie Raitt, she was quite gracious and said she would be honored to have her photo taken with such a handsome young man! Both kindred spirits lit up with the most amazing smiles as the photo was snapped. Later that afternoon, Raitt joined Toots and the Maytals on stage for one of the most soulful performances ever.
"It was a great pleasure performing with Boom Shaka in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at a benefit concert for Hohete Tesfa, an Ethiopian foundation for street children. Once again, seeing the power of our music, inspires me greatly. We proudly received certificates of merit from Mayor Arkebe Oqubay. For me it was special to actually be in the land that I have heard so much about through music and poetry all my life. I had always had a yearning to be there. I have seen the direction our music has taken and it sometimes is disappointing. I must say that the power of the word of the great ones has opened up a whole world for a lot of fools to come sample and trample. I must say thank you to bands who have struggled through the years to keep it real. Even the President acknowledged the force of the music and invited us to his office at the palace. Yes, I remember thinking, I am really here at the palace of H.I.M. and with mine own eyes, I have seen the crown of Haile Selassie and Empress Menin. Our escorts in the palace were told to show us everything. I sat on the throne of King Menelek II. I held his sword in my hand and all this confirmed a lot for me. The very next day I was baptized by the Ethiopian Orthodox Priest, Hermit Gebre Meskel. I know reggae music had brought me there and now I understand when Bob said 'neither can be bought nor sold.' Shashamane was a very enlightening part of the trip where we visited three generations of repatriates, who had taken the step to go back to Africa and build anew. It was an honor for me to visit and meet with elders from all the sectors of Rasta, and to actually get encouragement and blessings from the Nyabinghi and Bobo elders, from the Twelve Tribes and from the Orthodox, who are building churches and developing communities, maintaining their families and all happily inviting us to come back home. Please, let us be realistic about these invitations. We do need skilled people and money to build up our country, so I extend the invitation from the President and the Rasta community in Ethiopia, to all those who are here 'keeping it real.' Take another look at the words of Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley and to all who have expressed, through music and poetry, the love and the yearning for being free, then look again to Ethiopia, first time truly for real, and after a long look in the mirror on ourselves, think about 'what you can do for your country.' There is so much to say and so much to learn, and the music gives the lesson."
"One love in action! Austin, Texas DJ Sista Irie brought her internet skills and together with reggae artist Mikey General as spokesperson, started an internet newsgroup to bring attention to one of Mikey General's favorite charities, the Jamaican National Children's Home Tegwyn Special Unit for children with special needs. I was blessed with the opportunity to be in Kingston in February and visit this very wonderful place. When I arrived at the home, I was struck by the care and love that Mikey General and the other workers had toward the children, their great needs and the facilities. Their focus was entirely on the children and the children responded positively in return. It didn't at all seem like an institution, it felt more like I was sitting in someone's yard. I felt privileged to see the love of the Father bestowed in such a great way. What impressed me the most was how happy and well-behaved the children were. I saw lots of big, beautiful smiles on the children's faces! This is a testament to the caretakers, as they are the ones that make it a 'home' for the children. I really admire them because it's not an easy job and they don't receive a lot of pay or time off. I'm sure Mikey General could be busy with other aspects of his career but he so generously gives of his time and energy. My heart was warmed and I was happy that Sista Irie helped raise funds for a new washer for the home. I was definitely impressed with the Tegwyn Unit. I will continue to support them and would encourage others to do so too. Give thanx to Ras Mikey and Sista Irie for bringing us the awareness. Please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rasmikey or contact sisirie@io.com for more info. One love in action!"
"This is my experience about how reggae touches people and shows love and unity. After leaving Jamaica, I and I used to live in Canada. It was hell crossing the border to come to the U.S. to perform. They were turning back everybody left, right and center. I was kinda nervous but I seh Jah will let me get through and I started to sing Bob Marley's famous lines... 'Don't worry, bout a ting/ every little ting, will be all right...' My turn came and I was humming the song as I got up to the officer. He said, ' Papers.' I gave him all my documents, then he stopped suddenly and said, 'That Bob Marley you humming?' I was kinda surprised but I said, ' Yes.' The mood he was in before he heard me humming was totally different than now. He became very calm and very open toward me. I was still kinda tentative but became very relaxed when he said Bob Marley was his favorite reggae singer and that he had traveled several times to Jamaica to get rare Bob Marley music. He said that me coming up and humming that song took his mind off the stress and what was happening in the world. He said that he wished he was home listening to Bob singing about peace and love for all mankind. After that he let me through and told me to hold the faith. That is when I knew the effect of the music had over the world. Black, white, purple, it does not matter. Reggae has the power to bring nations together."
"Shortly after I arrived on Guam in 1994, I heard rumors from others in the reggae community that one of Haile Selassie's granddaughters lived on the island. I would always try to get more details on this rumor, but no one seemed to know more than just that she lived here. Over the past nine years, I have heard this rumor probably a dozen times from different people. Another rumor that I've heard constantly on this island is that guy named Tom Pearson (or Pierson or Peirson) is on the island and is also is a teacher, like myself. This has come to me from friends who have visited Bali occasionally. (Stay with me, it all connects!) After checking into hotels and being discovered as coming from Guam, I had been told that the hotel person knows a teacher from Guam named Tom Pearson (or a variant), who is an African. My friends have always informed the person they were talking to that they also knew me, the other Tom Pearson, but although I had lived in Africa for many years in the past, I was most definitely Caucasian! The speaker has always insisted that the Tom P. they knew was African. Although this has been relayed to me by two or three different friends who have stayed in different hotels in Bali, I have always just thought it an odd coincidence, especially since I have never been to any of those hotels. I have never had the opportunity to cross paths with this guy. Recently a teacher at my school, who is originally from the Ivory Coast, stopped by my house to borrow some music. He had never been here before, and was amazed at the number of Selassie posters I have on my walls. He then asked me if I had ever met his granddaughter who lives here. I told him no, but that I had heard rumors of her many times. He told me that she owned a shop not far from where I live. I drove by the shop so I would be sure to know where it was. Then one morning I stopped there, and when I walked in there was an older woman helping a customer with her back to me. Her posture was quite regal, and she had on a flowing dress and was wearing an African head scarf. I knew this was the woman I was looking for. When she finished with the customer she was helping, she turned around to help me, saw my shirt with the picture of H.I.M., looked at me, then back at the shirt, and said nothing for a minute or two. No words were necessary between us. Her eyes started to fill with tears and she started to cry. Finally she spoke, 'I miss him so much' and she proceeded to give me a big hug. We talked for about 15 minutes. She told me that after Mengistu overthrew the government, the family had escaped and she was eventually relocated to Guam, where the government gave her a parcel of land. She eventually married an American - by the name of Pierson - and they had a son named Tom (he goes by Tommy), who was the young man working inside the shop! I told her of the works of Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide, and the importance of her grandfather to so many around the world. I finally had to leave and she again broke into tears and said, 'Thank you so much. I was planning to leave the shop earlier this morning at my normal time, but something told me to stay later today.' We made arrangements to meet again at her home. I thought you would appreciate and love this story. I still have chills running down my spine. Jah Works fi true!"
"The man was wicked on stage and hot pon di mike. Dressed in a nice black and gold-striped African suit with red, gold and green flashing shoes and head wrap, and backed by Israeli sound systems, he made a nice stylee combination with an Israeli upcoming hip -hop and dancehall star named Mooki, then he sang some of his lyrics on his own riddims as well as other well-known riddims. The people loved his show and the massive, at 400 to 500 strong, were super irie, waving Rasta flags in the air, all dancing and chanting. Jah Mason got the positive vibes up and going and looked like he enjoyed the irie welcome and respect, and did not stop singing! After performing on the same stage as such a man as Jah Mason, plus meeting so many new friends, myself and my band agreed the night was a fine time! And if I fail to recognize any of the charming people I met that night, sorry - too much spliff can do that sometimes!"
"Years ago, I took a six-month trip with two college friends. After traveling for several weeks throughout India, Nepal and Thailand, we decided it was time for a bit of relaxation so we headed for the islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan in the south of Thailand. Before heading to the more remote Koh island Phangan (an island in the region depicted in the film/book The Beach), we stayed in the party area of Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui. We were delighted to find that the Reggae Pub was still there. Established in 1989, it features Bob Marley's face as its logo. All over the world you can find souvenirs of all sorts devoted to the likeness and spirit of Bob Marley and here was no exception. We had loaded up on bootleg reggae cassettes in Bangkok and we were ready for a break from the hustle of backpacker travel. I was not to visit Jamaica for another two years so the feeling of openness at the Pub was as fresh as the night air of Negril. With 40-foot ceilings and wooden, thatched structures that opened onto a huge sand dance floor, the music of reggae transcended all cultural barriers and the irie vibes flowed to comfort our road-weary souls."
There are so many happy memories! Reggae blankets the earth in the warm love of unity, music and positive vibes between all peoples, in a crazy quilt of diversity, all with one common thread, that sweet, sweet reggae!