SIMPSON BAY--“The tribute to Bob Marley is more than about reggae music. It is about who he was and what he taught,” said Roland “Bushman” Joe as Freedom Fighters Foundation gears up for the two-day annual Marley Tribute slated for Karakter Beach Bar on Friday, February 5, and Ital Shack on Bush Road on Saturday, February 6.
Bushman said it is sad to see that many people want to promote the music of the legendary singer and Rastafarian icon Marley without knowing his essence and what he stood for. “Many people will see a Rasta and scorn him, but still want to embrace Bob Marley without knowing what he stood for,” he said.
He recalled that more than three decades ago, when Marley and his entourage passed through St. Maarten, they could not find a car willing to take them from the airport to Philipsburg. “It was a place of discrimination and some of it still here today. There are people who play Bob Marley’s music, but shun their neighbour because he is a Rasta,” he said.
Bushman and Freedom Fighters will continue to edify the community about the positive role of Rasta. “Rasta is not a criminal or a vagabond. We are people and we contribute too,” Bushman said.
The annual tribute goes way beyond music, Bushman said. “It is our way the contribution of Rasta to our society,” he said. “It is about righteousness and truth. It is about culture. It is to show Rasta have an impact on society.”
Another facet of the tribute is bringing out the teaching of Haile Selassie. “We want to show this life is worth a lot. We should not live in a life of illusion,” Bushman said.
This will be the 16th annual Bob Marley Tribute hosted by Freedom Fighters. Bushman said the journey has been long and not without hurdles. “We keep making it and doing better,” he said.
The free concert at Karakter is from 8:00pm on Friday to 1:00am on Saturday. The line-up features Freedom Fighters and renowned St. Maarten Saxophonist Connis Vanterpool. The saxophonist will launch his collaborative album of Bob Marley’s covers compiled with several other local musicians. A number of his collaborators will also perform at the concert.
The appreciation of Marley’s music and teaching continues on Saturday at Ital Shack with a deejay battle between DJ Spirit Man and DJ Entourage. The tribute starts at 8:00pm on Saturday and continues to 1:00am on Sunday.
Bushman invites the public to join the tribute and learn more about Bob Marley and the Rasta truth.
