So You Think You’re a Reggae Fan?

Over time differrent types of music fads have grabbed Kenyans attention, even having theme nights attributed to them. Two outstanding fads of late have been Reggae and Ragga. Whereas Ragga has brought in more artistes to Kenya than I can mention in this article, Reggae has quite the following leading to “Reggae nights” in several prominent night clubs such as Tamasha and Click on Mondays and K1 on Thursdays, and this is in Nairobi alone!

But really guys, how much do you know about Reggae? Is it those five reggae songs everyone knows or the erratic dance move of jumping on one leg with your hand up in the air?

Team Ghafla sought to learn more about Reggae in the docu-film Marley showing exclusively at Starflix Cinemas. Check out the schedule here.

This docu-film, although released way after Bob Marley’s death in 1981, really sheds light onto this legend that lived before most of our time. It’s an emotional story told in the words of his family represented by his wife Rita, son Ziggy and his daughter. Friends from the Wailers also chip in to the story as well as managers and producers he had during his career.

Not suprisingly were also contributions from his long-term girlfriend who was also Ms. Jamaica and Ms. World 1976 (yeah, Bob had swag like that, haha) and other women who popped into Bob’s life along the way.

An interesting revelation was the connection between Reggae, the Religion founded by Haile Selassie and Bob’s political activism which led to his assassination attempt. Whereas a sad revelation was the rejection by his fathers family when he tried to reach out to them (Bob was born of a white father and an African mother).

The docu-film also reveals how Bob was a soccer fanatic playing soccer everyday to get inspiration to write songs, (okay, after smoking up some “spliffs”), until he eventually lost his toe.

The movie ends with the sad revelations of his cancer and him having to cut off his trademark dreadlocks before he passed on. Check out the article here.

All in all, Team Ghafla surely got schooled in Reggaism and Bob Marley’s life, although its sad that it came out so long after his death but no time like the present!

So before you sing “You dont have to dread to be rasta” or smoke up that spliff thinking you are Reggae damu, make a point of watching this remarkable docu-film in honour of the legend that is Marley!
Review by Suzanne

Check out my review here.