Rasta awakening Droop calls for RASTA AWAKENING
REGGAE singer Droop Lion is incensed that the Rastafarian music community is mum about the razing of Bobo Hill, St Andrew, last Friday.
He believes it is a testament that the movement has lost its way because its leaders are weak.
“The real truth is that the Rasta dem bout ya have lost track of the mission where it is supposed to be, and no matter how old dem is, dem coulda grey from dem toe to dem brain, if dem lost track of dem ting, dem lost track. When me see all Bobo Hill bun down, by some little infiltrators, a guy or a group of guy can get up and light fire and bun up Rasta artefacts, how much generations ah grow pon the levels of artefacts wah deh deh so? And a guy or a group of guy can go burn that — ah lightning!” he said.
Rastafarians from the Bobo Shanti order in Nine Miles, St Andrew, made a report to the police that an armed intruder started a huge fire on the premises, destroying multiple buildings, computers, and important documents last Friday.
“I and I know say it ah come among us, from within us as Rastafari, because we nah live with the unity we supposed to have. Man ah come play Selassie I, but we have Selassie already, His Imperial Majesty who lives and will never die, so if a man waan come play Selassie, dem ah go play an infiltration role and that will make judgement creep in ‘pon dem,” he said.
Bobo Hill is home to the Bobo Shanti, or Bobo Ashanti, House of Ras Tafari, who are known for their peaceful militant interpretation of Marcus Garvey’s teachings. Bobo Shanti is one of the strictest mansions of Rastafari. Many reggae and dancehall artistes proclaim an affiliation to the community.
He said that leading Rastafarian artistes have failed the new generation of artistes.
“Rasta is head creator! How yuh a call some guy Rasta and dem nah create nothing? When yu look pon Bounty and Beenie Man dem, Aidonia, Vybz Kartel and Busy Signal, despite what dem say outta dem mouth, dem man deh create ways, dem beat it and defend the dancehall youths dem. What happen to dem big dread inna culture music who fi come defend the Rasta yutes? Dem mek some radio guy manipulate the youths dem,” Droop Lion said.
“If I and I as Rastafari nah live upful and live with morals and the behaviour pattern we supposed to have, a pure judgement a go reach we. And when we a talk bout judgement, we a think a fi some people alone, but every time the people dem judgement come,we fi know our own de inna it too, because if we nah live certain way round here, certain judgement caan gwaan, ah we ah the vanguard, we ah the gatekeeper, the man say if the watchman sleepeth, my lord, the city will perish because it will be invaded.”
He challenged several reggae artistes to rise up and resume their leadership role in music and the wider society.
“Mi nah hear Sizzla and mi nah hear Anthony B the way mi know dem. Mi know dem stand up fi the ting and nuh ‘fraid ah Babylon…”