Sunday, November 23, 2008

Reggae music in Africa

by Ayokunle Joel-Taiwo

Reggae music in Africa has become popular since Bob Marley’s trip to Zimbabwe in 1980, prior to Marley’s trip, reggae had been viewed as a foreign music, and there were little or no African artists that delved into reggae music according to my research. Today, there are thousands of reggae artists in different parts of Africa, each with their own unique sounds and styles of Reggae music.

Lucky Dube, without a doubt is the most popular reggae artist in Africa and has kept the title until his death in October 2007, with a total of 23 albums, performance around the world and several awards, it’s no surprise how the South African earned his popularity. Dube’s style of music is very different from most reggae artists, he often used his song as a voice for the poor and also as a way to talk about the wrong doings of the government like many artist in Africa do. The track off his latest album called “Respect” is one of my favorites of all his tracks, if you have a problem with people misusing the authority they have, then you might like this track as well.

I own 19 of his 23 albums, I guess you can call me a collector of Lucky Dube’s albums, there are many of us out there, I often get emails on where to get his albums, as I write this post there are currently about 10 of Dube’s albums available for download on Amazon Mp3, I think more will be added later, as I remember checking a couple of months ago and only about 8 albums were available.

Another African Reggae artist that has been quite popular around the world is Majek Fashek, the Nigerian has been said to have vocal resemblance with the Legendary Bob Marley. He is definitely one hell of a guitarist, I can testify to that because I listen to his music regularly, Fashek sings a blend of Reggae, rock and Afro Beats.

In the 80’s Fashek toured with Ras Kimono (a Nigerian reggae artist) before going solo and releasing his first album titled “Prisoner of Conscience” in 1989, within that album is a track titled “Send Down the Rain” which gain him so much fame. I remember as a little boy in Nigeria when the song “Send Down the Rain” was released, there had been drought in Nigeria and it finally rained sometime around the single was released, the song couldn’t have been released at a better time, he was labeled by so many as a prophet, as a 9 year old at the time I understood very little about who he really was, but I remember thinking he actually sent down the rain.

My favorite of all his music is the cover version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe” as a Jimi Hendrix fan, the song drew my attention and I think it was a very creative song using a different bluesy tune and adding some drums, it’s a must hear track, another cover song by Fashek is Bob Marley is Bob Marley’s “Hotel California”

Alpha Blondy is an Ivorian reggae artist and sings in mainly Dioula (an Ivorian language) he has also recorded some tracks in English, French and Arabic, like Dube, his music focuses on political issues in Côte d’Ivoire. While I don’t understand the lyrics in most of his music, he sings in root reggae style which is a familiar reggae beat and if you are a roots reggae fan you probably will dance along and forget that you don’t understand the lyrics, like me. Blondy is also an activist and a humanitarian, most of his albums are controversial towards the government and French colonies like many African artists such as Fela Kuti, if you like Alpha Blondy, you might also like Tiken Jah Fakoly, another Ivorian reggae artist.

What's Next?

Reggae is now becoming popular around the world. Lots of reggae band have been formed all around the world.