LargeUp scores an exclusive interview with Kevin MacDonald–most famous until now for the Forrest Whittaker vehicle Last King of Scotland but about to become more famous for Marley, his documentary on the one and only Bob Marley (which hits big and small screens today).
Both the film and Jesse Serwer‘s Q&A cut deep, touching on aspects of Bob’s life which–amazingly, for one of the most famous figures of our era–have never come to light until now. Those include his final days and his struggle with cancer (the subject of innumerable conspiracy theories) his torubled friendship with football star Alan “Skilly” Cole and his relationship with Pascaline Bongo (pictured with Bob, above) the ‘Princess of Gabon’ who invited him to play in Africa for the very first time. Pretty riveting stuff for any serious Marley fan. Read a short excerpt below and click the links below for the full interview, as well as video of Bob’s historic performance at Zimbabwe’s Independence celebrations, recorded thirty-two years ago–almost to the day (April 17th, 1980).
LU: How did you come on that story of the princess of Gabon ?
KM: I had been told by a few people that she had been very important in the last years of his life, in introducing him to Africa. The first time he played in Africa he was invited by her father but her, really. That seemed like a key point in his life. Obviously Africa means so much to him. I thought here’s a bizarre story, a strange individual in this incredibly luxurious environment and you feel like that’s a million miles from Trenchtown, so that appealed to me. They’d had a relationship that went beyond just a girlfriend relationship, I think she’d been also instrumental in a couple things in his life. She visited him in Germany before he died.
From trumpeter Hugh Masekela‘s mournful ode to migrant workers “Stimela (Coal Train)” to blues poet Gil Scott-Heron‘s “Johannesburg” and reggae prophet Bob Marley‘s lament “War”, music has played an integral part in Africa’s fight against the injustices of colonialism and apartheid. In Zimbabwe’s struggle against white settler colonialism the situation was no different. Musicians like Stella Chiweshe, The Bhundu Boys, John Chibadura, Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mtukudzi and others provided the soundtrack the revolution.
“Underlying all Zimbabwe culture is our on-going battle for justice, the concept of Chimurenga (taken from the Shona word for ‘struggle’ or ‘outcry’)”, says writer Alexander Fuller. It’s a concept that seeps and speaks through the writings of Dambudzo Marechera (House of Hunger) and Yvonne Vera (Stone Virgins), the compositions of Thomas Mapfumo, the plays of Daves Guzha (The Two Leaders That I Know) and many others.
Today marks the troubled country’s independence from colonialism in 1980. Sadly, 32 years on Zimbabwe, once a beacon of promise, resembles nothing of a free state. So to honor this day, we’ve compiled a list of some jams criss-crossing the old-school and the new of resistance from the troubled nation.
Happy Independence Zimbabwe, aluta continua, the struggle continues.
(Not too long ago,) Okayafrica was put on to “I am An African” by Papa Ghana(thanks Spoek Mathambo!), the Ghanaian-rooted, Gandhi-quoting, Dutch musician whose influences are just as broad as his audience. Papa Ghana takes An African Minute to tell us about his single, the message in his music, and what we can look forward to next.
1.Who are you (besides “An African”)?
My name is Jefferson Osei a Ghanaian born and raised in the Netherlands. I’m 23 years of age. Student, football player by heart, 1/7 of the creative collective Daily Paperand 1/3 of L’Afrique Som Systeme.
2. How would you describe your music and its audience?
First of all I want my music to be approachable for everyone in the world. People should start smiling when they play my music, no matter what colour of skin or religion. I’m influenced by many cultures therefore I use a variety of styles and genre in my music such as afro-beat, coupe decale, kuduro, grime, dubstep, electro and hip hop. So if I were to discribe my music in one word I would say: Diaspora Beat, yeah I know you have never heard of it. It’s music made by people whom are away from their established or ancesteral homeland influenced by other cultures. I would describe my audience as people of all kinds of race whom are not stiff in the hips.
3. Who/What/Where are some your biggest music influences to date?
I have a broad taste in music. Fela Kuti, Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, 2Pac, DJ Premier, Kanye West, Salt ‘n Pepa, Aaliyah, R. Kelly, Lil’ Wayne, Daft Punk, Dizzee Rascal, Magic Som Systeme, Buraka Som Sistema, D’banj, and Sarkodie. As you can see I have been influenced by many Artists whom made different types of music.
4. You just dropped a video for your single “I Am An African,” why did you choose to debut with this song?
This song has a message to all people in the world. We need more unity in the world. Africa is the homeland where it all started a long time a go. I want people to remember this, cause no matter what colour or religion we are all Africans.
5.What’s next for Papa Ghana?
My first priority is my bachelor degree in school and launching the first Daily Paper clothing line. I’m also working on The Mandingo EP, my new EP with various music styles. It should be released somwhere in the summer, on African time.
6. We noticed that Papa Ghana is sounds similar to “propaganda.” If Papa Ghana were to spread propaganda, what would it be?
Be the change you want to see in the world.
Check out more OKA’s African Minute interviewees- folks whose work reflects a new perspective of Africa:
Congolese superstar rapper Hugo Million
South African fashion designer Gareth Cowden
Nigerian songstress Zara Gretti
Zimbabwean celebrity hair and make up stylist Jackie Mgido
Kenyan comic artist Chief Nyamweya
Rwanda’s fashion designer House of Tayo Oli Benet and Senegalese skaters
Zimbabwean self-taught illustrator/activist Sindiso Nyoni
For every musical need, there is a Nigerian. Want a side of political activism with your tunes, à la Bob Marley? Listen to Nneka. For traditional African music that picks funk as its dance partner, go see FELA!And it won’t be long before D’Banj is queued up after Kanye on every college dorm party playlist. But then there’s Asa, who hasn’t been tossed into a musical scene the way other Nigerians have. Even before you listen to her music, Asa seems like a different kind of Nigerian musician. While P-Square can blend in with fellow R&B artists Usher and Trey Songz, Asa’s choice of wardrobe recalls the distinctive style of indie rock songstress Shingai Shoniwa. Maybe it’s because she’s a Parisienne—Asa was born in the French/fashion capital and raised in Lagos. Asked in a recent interview with CNN’s African Voices program (video below) whether she felt more connected to Paris than to Lagos, Asa said no. Though currently based in Paris, she’s proud to be from Nigeria. She wants people to ask where she’s from when they listen to her music. Asa’s music, however, achieves a brand of genre-bending that few other Nigerian musicians are attempting. She’s doing her own thing. See for yourself in her latest video, “Why Can’t We” above. In the video Asa sports a series of bright, retro-inspired outfits. Though it’s hard to stick a genre label on it, you could say Asa’s music is like her fashion sense turned into a soundtrack.
Ghanaian/Canadian singer Kae Sun delivers a live version of “Weh-Weh” on a sunny Ontario winter afternoon. Dual guitars and handclaps from his crew are all he needs to steam through a teeming rendition of the Outside The Barcode EP standout. As a bonus, catch Kae Sun cover the king Bob Marley‘s “Crazy Baldheads” below. Outside the Barcode is available for free download.
Last year, Ziggy, Rohan and Robbie Marley travelled to Africa to film Marley Africa Roadtrip — a Discovery Channel documentary that follows the brothers’ motorcycle trip through the continent (although it appears from the trailer that they’re only in South Africa) in search of “their father’s dream of a unified Africa:”
In 1980, thirty years before the brother’s trip, their father Bob Marley performed at the Independence Concert in Zimbabwe. Ziggy was with him on that trip and it is something that he reflects on regularly, “… What we’re trying to do is keep one of the dreams that my father and the forefathers of African liberation had in mind, which is for real African unity.” (DC)
Music has long been the soundtrack of protest: Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Mos Def, Rage Against the Machine, Saul Williams, Public Enemy, Tupac, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Dead Prez – the list of musicians fighting on behalf of the people goes on and on and on and on.
And in the past few weeks, musicians from all walks of life have signed on to support the #Occupymovement, standing in solidarity with the protesters on Wall Street and around the country who are demanding change. Above (and here), a few folks you may recognize – ?uesto, Moby, Kweli, Kanye, Russell, Bilal, Angelique Kidjo, and Gbenga Akinnagbe (from The Wire!) (and many more vids from others coming soon!) - are asking you to help support this movement that grows more powerful each day.
Yes, it’s a rare moment when a grass roots protest movement takes over the national – and international – conversation. And on Saturday, October 15th, over 858 cities in 78 different countries will host demonstrations – including, just FYI, more than just a few on the Bright Continent itself.
What do the protesters want? A more equitable world. For people to be valued over money and corporate interests. For the human race to halt their rampant destruction of the natural earth. Specifically, in the U.S., they want money to be separated from politics. They want leaders who are not owned by corporations, but instead fight for the people’s well-being and rights. They want a more equitable distribution of wealth. (For some seriously deep statistical legitimacy for the protesters’ complaints, check out this slideshow from Business Insider.)
For those of you here in the Okayafrica HQ city of New York, it’s our time to shine. On Saturday dozens of community groups, unions, student organizations and lots and lots of regular folk are taking to the streets in a mass protest – of tens of thousands – that will culminate in Times Square. In collaboration with a whole host of New York City’s movers and shakers, Okayplayer and Okayafrica will participate in the The Occupation Partyas it rocks the protest with music, performance and a street party in support of the actions of Occupy Wall Street.
For those of you not in New York or unable to come out and protest – there are so many ways to help. They are enumerated here.
Celebrities are using their fame to raise awareness and funds for the famine that has recently hit the horn of Africa, devastating the region, especially Somalia. One of the most severe droughts of the past 60 years, the disaster has already killed 29,000 children and deprived 12 million people of food, water and basic sanitation. Bob Marley’s family has joined forces with Save the Children charity and Oscar-winning director Kevin MacDonald to create a music video for Marley’s 1973 hit, “High Tide or Low Tide.” It’s hard not to be moved by the short (check it out above), which features victims of the famine. Celebrities – including Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Eminem, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Madonna, and Lady Gaga, just to name just a few of the 150 involved in the worldwide celebrity campaign entitled I’m Gonna Be Your Friend (a line from “High Tide or Low Tide”) – are supporting the initiative and spreading awareness by posting the vid to their Facebooks and Twitters. So far, they have collected over 700 million fans and followers.
Other celebrity-driven campaigns include U2’s Bono’s ONE petition, which asks governments to provide the funding deemed necessary to aid the region, and presses governments to keep promises that if kept, would prevent future devastation. Check out this video of superstar/philanthropist Bono and Somali singer/poet K’naan speaking with CNN correspondent Anderson Cooper about the famine as they try to raise awareness and discuss short and long-term solutions. The short-term solution, Bono explains, has two components: funding and security. Obviously, aid-workers need money to provide food, water and shelter to those in need, but they also need safe channels through which these supplies can be transported to victims. In the long-term, affected countries need programs to develop richer seeds and fertilizers. Both Bono and K’naan emphasize the urgency of the situation – we have the responsibility to act and must make immediate aide a priority. It’s easy to numb ourselves to the hardships of those hundreds of miles away (especially Somalis who have been degraded in the media — defined by stories of piracy and movies like Black Hawk Down), but these times — today and tomorrow – are defining moments in which we can show humanity and compassion. Check out the videos the learn more, click here to donate, and here to sign Bono’s ONE petition.
Our fellow Brooklyninte, Somi, who was born to parents from Rwanda and Uganda, debuts her first live album, Live at Jazz Standard, a ten-track collection of new African soul and jazz which was taped over two nights (live, obvs) at the Jazz Standard in New York City. (The house was sold out both nights, by the way.) The compilation, which includes original tracks done in English and three different East African languages, also pays tribute to musicians like Bob Marley and Abbey Lincoln with soulful covers of “Waiting in Vain” and “Should’ve Been.” Like any good live album, this effort takes you to the front row of a Somi show – capturing the passion, grace, and strength of her performance. Check it out for yourself, in stores and online. For more on Somi, check out the Revivalist’s feature story.
If you didn’t catch Beninese icon Angélique Kidjo’s PBS special, then you missed out on one of the best performances in the series to date. Kidjo was accompanied by the likes of Branford Marsalis and Josh Groban. There was even a few numbers by the dancers from the Broadway hit FELA!. Don’t worry though, the internet has you covered. Enjoy this Kidjo cover of Bob Marley’s classic “Redemption Song” featuring some great back up vocals courtesy of Harvard’s Kuumba Choir.
LargeUp Exclusive: Interview w/ Marley Director Kevin MacDonald
LargeUp scores an exclusive interview with Kevin MacDonald–most famous until now for the Forrest Whittaker vehicle Last King of Scotland but about to become more famous for Marley, his documentary on the one and only Bob Marley (which hits big and small screens today).
Both the film and Jesse Serwer‘s Q&A cut deep, touching on aspects of Bob’s life which–amazingly, for one of the most famous figures of our era–have never come to light until now. Those include his final days and his struggle with cancer (the subject of innumerable conspiracy theories) his torubled friendship with football star Alan “Skilly” Cole and his relationship with Pascaline Bongo (pictured with Bob, above) the ‘Princess of Gabon’ who invited him to play in Africa for the very first time. Pretty riveting stuff for any serious Marley fan. Read a short excerpt below and click the links below for the full interview, as well as video of Bob’s historic performance at Zimbabwe’s Independence celebrations, recorded thirty-two years ago–almost to the day (April 17th, 1980).
>>>Read More (Via LargeUp)
>>>Watch Video of Bob Marley’s Historic Zimbabwe Concert