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'Africa Unite' makes Jamaican big screen debut
'Africa Unite' makes Jamaican big screen debut
published: Friday | February 8, 2008
Mel Cooke, [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Freelance [COLOR=orange! important]Writer[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]
Actor and activist, Danny Glover (left), Rita Marley (centre) and Prime Minister Bruce Golding at the first screening of 'Africa Unite' at Carib Five, Cross Roads, Wednesday afternoon. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Photographer[/COLOR][/COLOR]
The large number of Rastafarians gathered outside Carib 5, Cross Roads, the thunder of drums at the entrance to the cinema and the flash of blue lights as Prime Minister Bruce Golding arrived made it clear that something special and different from the usual fare was being served up on big screen, on Wednesday afternoon.
And there was, as the documentary, Africa Unite,made its Jamaican premiere to a full house on Marley's 63rd birthday.
Inside Carib, at the top of the passageway leading to Cinema 3 where Stephanie Black's film was shown, a male artist drew image after image of Marley.
Welcoming smiles from young women dressed in screening sponsor People's Telecom shirts ushered all through double swathes into a decorated area that provided a snatch of cocktails just outside [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]the [COLOR=orange! important]doors[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR].
There were speeches and a little song before the screening, though, the flash of still cameras lighting up Danny Glover, Angelique Kidjo and Rita Marley, who all appear in the documentary, among others.
Kingsley 'Ragashanti' Stewart, who hosted the pre-[COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]movie[/COLOR][/COLOR] formalities, noted the mixture of persons present, saying "only Bob could bring this kaleidoscope of hues and social backgrounds together. It is a tribute to his vision and legacy, the man from St Ann".
Despite the diversity, though, common ground was found in Psalm 23, which was said en masse after a false start. At the end, there was an intonation of "Jah", followed by a response of "Rastafari", the first of a few such chants for the evening. One small red, green and gold flag was flown almost right throughout the screening.
Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller's salutation of "Jah" to the Rastafarians present was also answered with a mass "Rastafari". She described Bob Marley as a "free [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]spirit[/COLOR][/COLOR]" and told Glover she was happy he loved Jamaica and Jamaica returned the love.
When Simpson Miller was finished, Ragashanti clarified that Bob Marley's name is actually Nesta Robert Marley, as she had said, confirming with Rita Marley that there had been some confusion with the 'birth paper'. "Be assured the Leader of the Opposition did not make a mistake just now as some misinterpreted," Stewart said.
Popular man
Prime Minister Bruce Golding said Bob Marley "was not just a musician, an artiste. He was all of that, but if you compare him with the great performers - Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin - I don't know if people talk about them as much as they talk about Bob Marley". "Nobody has had the impact that Bob Marley has had in the past 50 years," he said.
Golding showed his familiarity with Bob Marley's music as he spoke of Simmer Down and It Hurts To Be Alone, but said he had never heard his favourite, I Know A Place, on radio. "So there must be so much of Bob we have not been fully exposed to," Golding said.
"But Mr prime minister yuh know tune man," Stewart complimented him.
Michael Dawson of People's Telecom, which put on the Jamaican screening along with the Bob Marley Foundation, said: "This is more than a dream of ours." He gave a brief history of the company and some of the events it got involved in, including celebrating Marcus Garvey's birthday, Mandela's release from prison, the anniversary of the Morant Bay Rebellion and Martin Luther King's birthday.
It was more than a rundown of a company's activities, though, as Dawson linked People's Telecom's activities with ensuring communication among persons in the black diaspora, emphasising the link between people torn apart "by that sick, disgusting thing called slavery". And he ended with quotes from Garvey and Marley, many voices joining in on the final "One God, One Aim, One Destiny".
There was song from the Papine High School choir, which did Africa Unite Medley, as well as a burst of song from Kidjo, who spoke after Glover, before Africa Unite eventually started.
published: Friday | February 8, 2008
Mel Cooke, [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Freelance [COLOR=orange! important]Writer[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]
Actor and activist, Danny Glover (left), Rita Marley (centre) and Prime Minister Bruce Golding at the first screening of 'Africa Unite' at Carib Five, Cross Roads, Wednesday afternoon. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Photographer[/COLOR][/COLOR]
The large number of Rastafarians gathered outside Carib 5, Cross Roads, the thunder of drums at the entrance to the cinema and the flash of blue lights as Prime Minister Bruce Golding arrived made it clear that something special and different from the usual fare was being served up on big screen, on Wednesday afternoon.
And there was, as the documentary, Africa Unite,made its Jamaican premiere to a full house on Marley's 63rd birthday.
Inside Carib, at the top of the passageway leading to Cinema 3 where Stephanie Black's film was shown, a male artist drew image after image of Marley.
Welcoming smiles from young women dressed in screening sponsor People's Telecom shirts ushered all through double swathes into a decorated area that provided a snatch of cocktails just outside [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]the [COLOR=orange! important]doors[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR].
There were speeches and a little song before the screening, though, the flash of still cameras lighting up Danny Glover, Angelique Kidjo and Rita Marley, who all appear in the documentary, among others.
Kingsley 'Ragashanti' Stewart, who hosted the pre-[COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]movie[/COLOR][/COLOR] formalities, noted the mixture of persons present, saying "only Bob could bring this kaleidoscope of hues and social backgrounds together. It is a tribute to his vision and legacy, the man from St Ann".
Despite the diversity, though, common ground was found in Psalm 23, which was said en masse after a false start. At the end, there was an intonation of "Jah", followed by a response of "Rastafari", the first of a few such chants for the evening. One small red, green and gold flag was flown almost right throughout the screening.
Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller's salutation of "Jah" to the Rastafarians present was also answered with a mass "Rastafari". She described Bob Marley as a "free [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]spirit[/COLOR][/COLOR]" and told Glover she was happy he loved Jamaica and Jamaica returned the love.
When Simpson Miller was finished, Ragashanti clarified that Bob Marley's name is actually Nesta Robert Marley, as she had said, confirming with Rita Marley that there had been some confusion with the 'birth paper'. "Be assured the Leader of the Opposition did not make a mistake just now as some misinterpreted," Stewart said.
Popular man
Prime Minister Bruce Golding said Bob Marley "was not just a musician, an artiste. He was all of that, but if you compare him with the great performers - Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin - I don't know if people talk about them as much as they talk about Bob Marley". "Nobody has had the impact that Bob Marley has had in the past 50 years," he said.
Golding showed his familiarity with Bob Marley's music as he spoke of Simmer Down and It Hurts To Be Alone, but said he had never heard his favourite, I Know A Place, on radio. "So there must be so much of Bob we have not been fully exposed to," Golding said.
"But Mr prime minister yuh know tune man," Stewart complimented him.
Michael Dawson of People's Telecom, which put on the Jamaican screening along with the Bob Marley Foundation, said: "This is more than a dream of ours." He gave a brief history of the company and some of the events it got involved in, including celebrating Marcus Garvey's birthday, Mandela's release from prison, the anniversary of the Morant Bay Rebellion and Martin Luther King's birthday.
It was more than a rundown of a company's activities, though, as Dawson linked People's Telecom's activities with ensuring communication among persons in the black diaspora, emphasising the link between people torn apart "by that sick, disgusting thing called slavery". And he ended with quotes from Garvey and Marley, many voices joining in on the final "One God, One Aim, One Destiny".
There was song from the Papine High School choir, which did Africa Unite Medley, as well as a burst of song from Kidjo, who spoke after Glover, before Africa Unite eventually started.
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