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October 2009 - When you open the Bible,
sooner or later you will recognize lines
which have been used as lyrics in too many
Reggae tunes to mention. 85% of all Reggae
Artists will have at least one title
livicated to the Creator, almost always
called by a Name "JAH".
A commentary.
I remember when as a teenager I started
reading the Bible in English, I recognized
many sentences. I heard them before, over
drum and basslines, but I never knew them to
be Bible quotations.
We're not talking about a few quotes here
and there by some obscure artist, in fact
we're talking about just about everyone. In
Cyberspace, you can even find a website
livicated to Bible Quotes and Reggae Lyrics
where you can verify for yourself just how
important the Bible is for many,
many Reggae artists.
Even in Dancehall music, where you will
find a strong objection against the
homosexual lifestyle, it is not uncommon to
quote the Bible, or to express a personal
faith in the Creator. In itself, this
rejection of the homosexual lifestyle is
also based on what many would call
"religious beliefs" that drives
many if not the majority of Reggae artists.
It is fair to say, that there is more
than just a superficial connection with the
music that is Reggae and the fact that many,
if not most artists who play the music do
have some kind of faith in the Creator and
usually call Him by the Name JAH. And
therefore, this connection must be visible
in more than one aspect, which it is.
There's one aspect in particular which
exposes this connection, and how it works
out practically within Reggae Culture. I
always look at this aspect as a small
fulfillment of a prophecy, which says that
every tongue will tell and every knee will
bow for Jah Almighty.
There are many, many people actively
involved in Reggae Promotion and do not
consider themselves to believe in Jah. They
could be self-proclaimed atheists,
agnostics, and what have you. These people
usually will tell you all about the
"non-religious" parts of Reggae to
make the point that they too can be involved
in Reggae Promotion and they are absolutely
right when they do so.
Still, there's a funny side to that, when
you see just what some of these people are
doing. You see them using the African
Tricolor of Red, Gold and Green, you see
them using the Ethiopian symbol of the Lion
of Judah, you will even see them using the
Name of JAH in order to "create that
Reggae vibe", so to speak.
However you want to look at this, it is
clear that when you are involved in Reggae
Music on an active level, there's a couple
of things you can and cannot do in Reggae
Culture, a Culture so much connected with
the worship of the Creator under His Name
JAH and the Bible as a source of reference,
the reading of which is driven by a personal
faith, not a religion.
Ras, Reggae, Religion? I don't think so.
Ras-Reggae Relation? Definitely so.
Who feels it knows it. Come mek we
reason!
One Love, Give Thanks,
Messian Dread
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