EXPLORING GRAMPA WATERFALL: A TALE OF SERENITY AND DISCOVERY
As an avid traveler and nature enthusiast, stumbling upon hidden gems is a rewarding experience. St. Thomas, Jamaica, is a place rich in hidden natural treasures waiting to be discovered.
WELCOME TO EMANCIPATION PARK
A TRIBUTE TO OUR FREEDOM
The morning breeze ushers in dawn's new light as joggers commence the day's ever-changing cycle. A rare jewel in the heart of Kingston city, Emancipation Park is a refuge for many who seek solitude and a soothing ambience away from the hustle and bustle of daily living. It's an oasis where one can rejuvenate among its lush seven-acre landscape that symbolizes the legendary beauty of the island of Jamaica. Nature lovers can bask in the Park's scenery lined with tropical flowers and trees such as the majestic Royal Palm, its branches stretching outwards beckoning to the skies. Art lovers can appreciate the beautifully crafted 11ft. bronze sculpture "Redemption Song" by celebrated Jamaican artist, Laura Facey that graces the ceremonial entrance of the Park. The opening of Emancipation Park in July 2002 is a significant milestone in the journey of our nation. The Park was created to be a symbol of our Freedom to Hope, to Excel and to Be.
http://www.emancipationpark.org.jm/about-us/journey-to-freedom.ph
Jamaican officials say more casualties expected after Hurricane Melissa causes 'total devastation'
30 October 2025
Summary
THE JOURNEY TO FREEDOM...
FROM SLAVERY TO EMANCIPATION
When the English captured Jamaica from the Spaniards in 1655, they saw the potential wealth that sugar cane known then as "yellow gold" could bring them. The English were however not physically capable of growing sugar canes themselves as this was a crop that required intensive manual labour.
By then, the Arawak Indians, the original natives of the island, had become extinct. Natural disasters such as hurricanes as well as the diseases they contracted from the Spanish who held them captive for many years, virtually wiped out this indigenous population.
The English then looked towards the continent of Africa, where it was said that the Africans could withstand the heat and their bodies were more resistant to diseases. The majority of the slaves, who were taken from West Africa, endured a dreadful journey to the West Indies referred to as "The Middle Passage". By the late 18th Century, it was noted that Jamaica had the largest number of slaves in the British West Indies and a most successful sugar industry.
As the manufacturing and export of sugar and its by products such as molasses and rum thrived, the slave trade flourished. There were however, a few members of the British Parliament who having seen the conditions in which the slaves were forced to live, were strongly opposed to slavery thus sparking an anti-slavery debate.
First came the abolition of the slave trade in 1808. In 1823, the Anti-Slavery Society was founded with the Quakers taking a prominent role along with a number of influential men like William Wilberforce, Granville Sharp and Thomas Clarkson.
Investigations and arguments by members of this society revealing the horrors of slavery, lead to the passing of the Emancipation Act on July 31, 1834 in the British West Indies at midnight. However, full freedom to all slaves was not granted until four years later by Queen Victoria of England on August 1, 1838.
Emancipation meant that Jamaica's over 300,000 slaves were now free to choose what they wanted to do with their lives. Some persons remained on the sugar estates and worked for wages, which they later used to buy land for themselves while others headed for the hillside eventually forming free villages the first of which is Sligoville, located in St. Catherine.
What is the plan for digital IDs and will they be mandatory?
ByRachel Hagan
- Published26 September 2025
Updated 29 September 2025
The government has announced plans to introduce a digital ID system across the UK, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying it will ensure the country's "borders are more secure".
The IDs will not have to be carried day-to-day, but they will be compulsory for anyone wanting to work.
The government says the scheme will be rolled-out "by the end of the Parliament" - meaning before the next general election, which by law must be held no later than August 2029.
Why is the government introducing digital IDs?
The digital IDs will be used to prove a person's right to live and work in the UK.
They will take the form of an app-based system, stored on smartphones in a similar way to the NHS App or digital bank cards.
Information on the holders' residency status, name, date of birth, nationality and a photo will be included.
Announcing the scheme, Sir Keir said: "You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID. It's as simple as that."
The government says the scheme is designed to curb illegal immigration by making it harder for people without status to find jobs. Ministers argue this is one of the key pull factors for migrants entering the UK illegally.
Employers will no longer be able to rely on a National Insurance number - which is currently used as part of proof of right to work - or paper-based checks.
At the moment, it is quite easy to borrow, steal or use someone else's National Insurance number and that is part of the problem in the shadow economy - people sharing National Insurance numbers for example. The idea is that having a picture attached would make it - in theory - harder to abuse that system.
However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said that while there are arguments "for and against" digital ID, making it mandatory "requires a proper national debate".
In a post on X she said: "Can we really trust [Labour] to implement an expensive national programme that will impact all of our lives and put additional burdens on law abiding people? I doubt it."
Liberal Democrats' Shadow Attorney General Ben Maguire told the BBC the party was "struggling" to see how the policy would have a meaningful impact on illegal migration.
Will digital ID be compulsory and what else could it be used for?
Digital ID will be available to all UK citizens and legal residents, and mandatory in order to work.
However, for students, pensioners or others not seeking work, having a digital ID will be optional.
Officials also stress it will not function like a traditional identity card: people will not be required to carry it in public.
Ministers have ruled out requiring the ID for access to healthcare or welfare payments.
However, the system is being designed to integrate with some government services, to make applications simpler and reduce fraud.
The government said that, in time, digital IDs would make it easier to apply for services such as driving licences, childcare and welfare. It said it would also simplify access to tax records.
The government said they could also be used to "streamline verification processes across private sectors", for example when opening a bank account.
Announcing the scheme, Sir Keir Starmer said: "You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID. It's as simple as that."
Will people who don't have a smartphone need a digital ID card?
The government has promised the system will be "inclusive" and work for those without smartphones, passports or reliable internet access.
A public consultation expected to be launched later this year will include looking at alternatives - potentially including physical documents or face-to-face support - for groups such as older people or the homeless.
Which other countries already have ID cards?
The UK government has said it will "take the best aspects" of digital ID systems used elsewhere around the world, including Estonia, Australia, Denmark and India.
Each of these countries has its own unique system, but all use it as a way for people to prove who they are when accessing certain government or banking services.
- Estonia introduced its mandatory digital ID system in 2002, and people use it to access medical records, voting, banking and digital signatures. It's primarily stored on peoples' smartphones as a digital version of an ID card
- Australia and Denmark have digital ID apps that people can download and use to log into government and private services. Neither require citizens to have it
- India has a system through which people can obtain a unique 12-digit reference number to use as proof of residence and identity
Many other countries also use digital ID of one kind or another, including Singapore, Greece, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Arab Emirates, China, Costa Rica, South Korea and Afghanistan.
Has the UK tried to introduce ID cards before?
Yes. Tony Blair's Labour government legislated for voluntary ID cards in the early 2000s.
However, the scheme was scrapped in 2011 by the Conservative-led coalition, which argued it was too costly and intrusive.
The UK has only had compulsory ID cards during wartime. Although they stayed in place for several years after World War Two, Winston Churchill's government scrapped them in 1952 following criticism over costs and police use.
Why are some people against digital ID?
Civil liberties groups argue that even a limited digital ID could pave the way for a more intrusive system, raising concerns about privacy, data security and government overreach.
Big Brother Watch, alongside seven other organisations, has written to the prime minister urging him to abandon the plan, saying it will "push unauthorised migrants further into the shadows".
More than 2.4 million people have signed a petition against introducing digital ID cards, on the UK Parliament website. Petitions that get more than 100,000 signatures are considered for a debate in Parliament.
Other prominent critics include the former Conservative cabinet minister David Davis - who campaigned against Labour's ID card scheme in the 2000s.
He said "no system is immune to failure" and warned governments and tech companies have repeatedly failed to protect people's data.
WHY STEPHEN LAWRENCE DAY FOUNDATION?
TO HONOUR A LIFE LOST BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE YET TO COME.

Together, we can inspire dreams, remove barriers, and build a lasting legacy in Stephen’s name.
Who We AreStephen’s Story
The 3 C's
The 3 Cs — Classroom, Community, Careers, guide our mission to educate, empower and create opportunities for lasting change.FIND OUT MORE
Classrooms
Inspiring children to dream freely and value education as the key.
Communities
Supporting and create new connections within the community.
Careers
Creating opportunities for marginalised young people
196Days13Hours55Minutes03Seconds
Stephen Lawrence Day takes place on April 22nd every year, on the anniversary of Stephen’s death. A national moment of reflection and a call to action. Each year, we honour Stephen’s life by inspiring individuals, schools, and communities to drive change. Stephen Lawrence Day is more than remembrance, it’s a day to celebrate progress, challenge injustice, and empower young people to imagine their futures. We provide schools, workplaces, and individuals with resources and inspiration to participate meaningfully.
Get Involved
Be Part of the Change

Whether you’re an educator, an ally, a young person or a supporter, there’s a way for you to make an impact.

Monthly Donations
Support lasting change with a monthly gift. Your regular donation funds core work and programmes.Donate today
Fundraise
Take action by organising a fundraiser. Every pound raised helps create opportunities and inspire change.Fundraise with Us
Become a Partner
Partner with us to build a lasting legacy. Together we can drive equality and social
Stephen’s story is both challenging and inspirational. He was a normal young person who made the most of everyday opportunities. Although his life was short, Stephen provides a positive role model of a life well lived.

Stephen Lawrence was born and grew up in south-east London, where he lived with his parents Neville and Doreen, his brother Stuart and sister Georgina.
Like most young people, he juggled an active social life, school work, family commitments, and part-time employment. But he also had ambitions to use his talent for maths, art, and design to become an architect, and wanted to have a positive impact on his community.
Tragically, his dream of becoming an architect was never realised. On 22 April 1993, at the age of just 18, Stephen was murdered in an unprovoked racist attack. He didn’t know his killers and his killers didn’t know him.
After the initial police investigation, five suspects were arrested but not convicted. A public inquiry into the handling of Stephen’s case was held in 1998, leading to the publication of the Macpherson Report, which has been called ‘one of the most important moments in the modern history of criminal justice in Britain’.
It led to profound cultural changes in attitudes to racism, to the law and to police practice. It also paved the way for a greater understanding of discrimination of all forms and new equalities legislation.
Justice for Stephen is about all of us, every one of us, in society having justice. There are still too many young people who do not have a sense of hope, who just don’t get the chance to live their dreams. I want all our children and young people to feel inspired, be confident and have hope in their own future. We are building hope but there is more to do.
- BARONESS LAWRENCE, SPEAKING AT 20TH ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL IN 2013
Be Part of the Change

Commercial activities to cease at Blue Lagoon for reset
Hygiene, safety issues to be addressed
WhatsAppSharePublished:Friday | August 12, 2022 | 10:14 AMGareth Davis Sr/Gleaner Writer
All commercial activities are to be temporarily halted at Portland’s Blue Lagoon, which has been plagued by incidents of drug peddling, extortion, and illegal rafting, to allow for a more structured management system to be implemented.
The decision comes on the heels of an incident in which a member of an international movie company filming in Jamaica was almost run over by a boatman while swimming at the eastern parish’s premier attraction last week.
In announcing the closure, which will take effect on August 29, Jamaica National Heritage Trust Chairman Orville Hill on Wednesday said that last week’s incident was just the latest of many that have endangered the lives of tourists and locals using the facility, despite repeated attempts to sensitise players.
“There are too many players in the limited space as it is now,” Hill said, noting that the crisis is compounded by a lack of bathroom facilities at the location.
“ ... That in itself presents some amount of health hazard that we need to correct as we go forward. We have to make sure that all the products that we put out complies with all the legal requirements, and rafting on seawater is not permitted by Jamaican law. Rafting is really for river courses, and so that really is an area of challenge as well,” he added.
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Several agencies, including the Tourism Product Development Company, the Portland Municipal Corporation, the Alligator Head Foundation, the Ministry of Culture, Entertainment, Gender Affairs and Sport, the Blue Lagoon Alliance, along with the police, staged an emergency meeting on Wednesday to examine the current situation and hammer out a way forward.
The most recent concern is the reported sighting of crocodiles in the area last week.
“There is some confirmation that a crocodile – either one or two crocodiles – may be in the area and a NEPA (National Environment and Planning Agency) representative was also present. NEPA is taking control of that aspect of it in terms of trying to identify and to see how best they can relocate the reptile,” said Hill.
Locals’ livelihood hit hard by Blue Lagoon stalemate
WhatsAppSharePublished:Monday | March 6, 2023 | 1:20 AMLivern Barrett /Gleaner WriterPreviousNext
Map of the area declared as the Blue Lagoon National Monument, in Portland, including all those bodies of water up to the high-water mark during high and low tide known as Unity Bay, Lime Kiln Bay and the inlet called the Blue Lagoon, which together constitute the controlled areas.1 2 3 4
Private owners of the lands surrounding the national heritage site, the Blue Lagoon, have rebuffed a request to construct critical infrastructure at the world-renowned attraction, a stakeholder group has charged. The request was reportedly made by...
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Yes, Popcaan is from Saint Thomas Parish, Jamaica. He was born on July 19, 1988, in the parish and has often referred to St. Thomas as his hometown.
YouTube · Popcaan177K+ views · 1 week ago
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YouTube · Popcaan33.2K+ views · 17 hours ago
2:54Popcaan X Pinchers X Nitty Kutchie X Cp Ink X Notnice - Bad Anywhere (Official Video) Download/Stream https://onerpm.link/badanywhere ...
YouTube · Popcaan39.9K+ views · 2 weeks ago
2:49Inviolable. Popcaan · 3.8M views ; Popcaan, Pinchers, Notnice, Nitty Kutchie, Cp Ink - Bad Anywhere (Live Performance). Popcaan · 194K
Key Details
- Born: July 19, 1988.
- Birthplace: Saint Thomas, Jamaica.
- Significance: Popcaan often highlights his St. Thomas roots, even releasing a song titled "St. Thomas Native" with Chronic Law. His annual concert, Unruly Fest, is held in the parish, showing his commitment to the community.
- Cultural Impact: St. Thomas is considered the birthplace of the dancehall icon, where his musical journey began before he rose to international fame.
Popcaan Pays Tribute His Hometown In 'St. Thomas Native' Video | News | Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews19 Jul 2023Clash Magazine
POPCAAN - City SplashInternational star Popcaan, is a Jamaican dancehall icon whose journey began in St. Thomas, Jamaica. Discovered by Vybz Kartel in ...
City Splash
Biography – PopcaanABOUT POPCAAN. Andrae Hugh Sutherland, known the world over as Popcaan, started his life of musical excellence, years ago in St. T...
Popcaan
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officialpopcaan.comhttps://officialpopcaan.com › biography
Andrae Hugh Sutherland, known the world over as Popcaan, started his life of musical excellence, years ago in St. Thomas, Jamaica.
First 25 buses arrive for Gov’t rural school transport programme
WhatsAppSharePublished:Tuesday | June 24, 2025 | 6:55 PMPreviousNext
-Contributed photoThe 110 buses - fitted with modern safety features and designed to handle Jamaica’s terrain - will be distributed based on needs identified by the Ministry of Education. 1 2
Twenty-five of 110 new school buses designated for rural students arrived at Kingston Wharves today, marking what Transport Minister Daryl Vaz described as “one of the most transformative policy initiatives ever taken by any Government since Independence.”
The delivery, part of the Government of Jamaica’s new Rural School Bus Programme, is aimed at improving transportation access for students attending 258 rural schools across all 14 parishes.
Vaz was joined by Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon and Finance Minister Fayval Williams to oversee the offloading and initial inspection of the buses, which form the first batch of a phased rollout scheduled to conclude in early July, a ministry statement said.
“
Stony Gut
Stony Gut, a small village located in the parish of St. Thomas, is the birth place of Jamaica’s National Hero, Paul Bogle. He was a deacon of the Baptist Church, located in the same village. It was in this village that, what was to be later called the Morant Bay Rebellion, began. Paul Bogle, his brother Moses Bogle, and the people of Stony Gut walked to Spanish Town to air their grievances against the injustices and oppression faced in the Parish to Governor Edward Eyre.
On their return a violent protest, initiated by Paul Bogle, broke out which led to the death of a few militia men and Paul Bogle’s followers. Many of were arrested and punished while Paul Bogle himself was hanged.
The rebellion in the end brought about changes in the poor social and economic conditions of the peasants not only in St. Thomas but throughout the island. The rebellion was also the backdrop to the constitutional change which abolished the old representative system in favour of Crown Colony Government.
Morant Point Lighthouse
The Morant Point Lighthouse built in 1841 is listed by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust as a National Monument. It is the oldest lighthouse in the island. Built of cast iron tube, cast in London it is 100 feet long with a diameter of 5 feet at the base, and 3 feet at the cap. It is located in the most easterly point of the Island. The labour used in erecting the Lighthouse was supplied by kru-men from Africa. They were among the free Africans who were brought to Jamaica.
St. Thomas Parish Church
The St. Thomas Parish Church in Morant Bay is of brick construction. It was built in 1865 when the original Church situated at Church Corner was abandoned because of dilapidation.
The St. Thomas Parish Church in Morant Bay is of brick construction. It was built in 1865 when the original Church situated at Church Corner was abandoned because of dilapidation. The east wall of the Church has a brick with the date 1865 baked into it.
Bath Mineral Spa
The mineral spa or spring at Bath in the parish of St. Thomas was discovered by a run-a-way slave in the 1690s. When he discovered that the water of the mineral spring had healed the wounds that had plagued him for years, he decided to brave the wrath of his master to tell him the good news.
The mineral spring at Bath flows from two (2) rocks, which produces both cold and hot water. The water is mixed before it enters the bathhouses, which are built for guests. The water in the spring is not mixed and so it is very hot. The spring is rich in sulphur and lime and is believed to be very good for the treatment of rheumatic ailments and skin diseases.
Morant Bay Fort
Situated behind the Morant Bay Court House overlooking the harbour is the Morant Bay Fort. The fort which was probably built in 1758 was designed for nine guns. The fort is built of brick and cut stone approximately four inches thick. The guns were mounted on elaborate cast iron carriages.
The three guns that remain are 24 pounders manufactured in the early 19th century. At one time there was a magazine and a barracks attached to the fort.
The fort as well as the courthouse was the scene of trouble during the 1865 Morant Bay riots.
Heritage Sites by Parish
Learn more about Jamaican Heritage Sites here.

Vital Powers
Artist & Content Creator (BBC / Ditto Music)
VITAL POWERS is a BBC Presenter, Music Artist, DITTO Music Video Content Creator & Mentor. Originally from Wolverhampton, moved to London for 2 years, now currently living in California, USA. VITAL has English and Jamaican heritage has been creating music, and videos and working in the creative industry for over 15 years with a strong belief in family & respect.
Where are you based?
Currently The Bay Area in California, America.
Where do you work? What do you do?
I work as a professional music artist and content creator, with companies like Ditto Music, BBC and other small organisations.
What are you listening to?
- Trill Troy – For A Trillion Summers (E.P)
- Chronixx – Same Prayer
- Kendrick Lamar – Rich Spirit & Silent Hill
- Burna Boy – 23
- Skilli Beng – Blessings
- Popcaan – Family
How do you discover new music?
I discover new music in passing, when I’m out and about, from friends, I never look for it, I just happen on it – it’s the best way to discover artists and naturally enjoy the music.
Rarely ever do I search or look online for new music. Usually, I’ll just be around people who have great playlists.
What formats do you usually listen to? LP, CD, Cassette, Digital, Streaming Services? Why?
I will still indulge and buy a CD or some vinyl from time to time but I consume music solely via streaming platforms / DSPs or at LIVE shows!
“I discover new music in passing, when I’m out and about, from friends, I never look for it, it’s the best way to discover and naturally enjoy it.”
Where do you do most of your music listening?
I take music in most whilst I’m driving, travelling or exploring. It’s something about the consistency of new visuals that really makes music speak to me; loudly, openly, and clearly. That’s how I also listen to my own music when curating, testing and perfecting draft versions.
Also, I enjoy a social gathering, vibing to music that has just been released by an artist like Skepta, Drake or some new artist I may have heard rumblings about.
How do you find and listen to pre-release music?
I never really do, I’m a fan of music, and I like to enjoy music when all the other fans hear it – a version of Drake’s album got leaked last year, I had it sent to me, and I never even opened the folder. It would just wreck my future experience.
What are your frustrations with listening to music digitally? Any benefits?
My only frustrations are that it’s difficult to really remember because music is processed like microwave food, quickly, here today, gone tomorrow, so I appreciated artists who really give the music an extra push and long out the campaigns and promotion around it.
Links in my emails I ignore, I don’t really download music at all if I’m being honest, and who uses SoundCloud?
“Links in my emails I ignore, I don’t really download music at all if I’m being honest”
How do you keep track of everything you are listening to?
I use Apple Music to stream, all the things I play are in my search history. So from time-to-time I can go back and listen there!
WOLVERHAMPTON’S ESSENTIAL ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE
Buy the best reggae on vinyl or CD now.
The Wailers – Get Up, Stand Up
As a teenager battling to build a career, Bob Marley quickly grasped the importance of the songwriter’s craft. As a result, his songbook is packed with material that resonates beyond reggae. “Get Up, Stand Up,” co-written by Bob’s fellow Wailer Peter Tosh in 1973, served as a wake-up call to the world about the talent of both artists, as well as the spirituality and militancy of Rastafarian reggae. It reveals Bob’s understanding of the Black struggle, and Peter’s righteous fury about it. Their God is not a cosmic figure, but a living God; that’s why they were calling for justice in this life, not the next.
Get Up Stand Up (Official Fan Video 'Legend 30th') - Bob Marley
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Junior Byles – A Place Called Africa
The roots of Black people were a hot topic for reggae songs in 1971, but polemic was not enough for Junior Byles when he wrote “A Place Called Africa.” He focused on a personal story: his mama told him that was where he was from, and he demanded to know why he was suffering in Jamaica when his roots lay elsewhere. The result placed a complex subject in a context that could move any heart. One of several moments of genius in the career of a singer who has never been given the rewards he deserved.
Toots & The Maytals – Sweet And Dandy
If you want to know how ordinary country folk live, laugh, and love in The Isle Of Springs, hear this glorious song from 1969, in which The Maytals tell the story of a wedding. It’s all here: the price of the wedding cake, the disputes, the fun, and their drink of choice. A taste of the real Jamaica in one of the best reggae songs ever recorded.
UB40 – One In 10
Some fans regard the British band UB40 as a pop-reggae outfit, especially given the massive success of “Red, Red Wine.” But Jamaica takes them at face value: they are a proper reggae act that tackles both heavy topics and lighter ones. “One In 10,” a 1981 hit, examines how everyone suffers, and how much of that suffering is ignored. Highly political yet movingly humane, it is firmly in the reggae tradition.
One In Ten
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The Specials – Ghost Town
The original incarnation of 2Tone founders The Specials signed off with this dark and brooding tune from 1981, when the UK was going through a deep economic slump. “Ghost Town,” spookily resonant and weighty, hit No 1 in Britain. It was an influence on The Rolling Stones’ song of the same title, just as it was inspired by Prince Buster All Stars’ 1967 obscurity “7 Wonders Of The World.”
Althea & Donna – The West
Althea & Donna are widely known for “Uptown Top Ranking,” an amusing UK No.1 in 1977-78 which presented two seemingly trivial teens boasting about how fashionable and sexy they were. But note their hit record’s line “I strictly roots”: their Uptown Top Ranking album holds a number of serious reggae songs, including this gem, which insists the West will receive just punishment for the crime of slavery.
The West (Remastered 2001)
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Junior Murvin – Police And Thieves
Junior Murvin had been recording for the best part of a decade with little success when he showed up at Lee Perry’s Kingston studio in 1976 and auditioned “Police And Thieves.” It told an uncomplicated if pointed tale about crime in Jamaica, presenting both parties as two sides of the same coin. It caught the mood of that year’s long hot summer in London, appearing to soundtrack the rioting around that year’s Notting Hill Carnival in London. Punk band The Clash covered it, and the original charted in the UK two years later.
Police & Thieves
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Burning Spear – Slavery Days
Burning Spear’s Marcus Garvey is packed with some of his best songs and it is difficult to pick one. But “Slavery Days” remains a potent reminder why Black African people found themselves in Jamaica and are still suffering hundreds of years later. Spear, a singer full of the light of life, makes a bleak subject a celebration of the unperishable Black soul.
Slavery Days
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Deborahe Glasgow – Champion Lover
Reggae songs can be overtly carnal. “Champion Lover,” delivered in Jamaica by British lovers rock singer Deborahe Glasgow, was full of female desire – Deborahe was threatening to “kill you with it”! It was a reggae smash in 1989, and Shabba Ranks climbed aboard the rhythm that year to create “Mr. Lover Man,” Deborahe’s vocal still prominent. When Shabba remade his version in 1992, Deborahe’s voice was replaced by Chevelle Franklin’s. While this makeover became a huge pop hit, the song’s sexual identity was flipped. “Champion Lover” offers the song’s original attitude: a strong, proud woman at her passionate pinnacle.
Delroy Wilson – Better Must Come
Delroy Wilson was one of reggae’s signature voices, relied upon to deliver the vocal goods for decades. He is known for tales of love, but had a knack for making a powerful point, as heard on 1972’s anthem of hope over dissatisfaction, “Better Must Come.”
Ken Boothe – I’m Not For Sale
Slavery is a recurring theme in Jamaican music, but Ken Boothe’s powerfully direct “I’m Not For Sale” examines it at another level, the singer rebuffing a woman who thinks he can be bought. It was inspired by the phenomenon where comparatively wealthy tourists sought sexual gratification with poor Jamaicans, not bothering to consider the grim implications. Aided by mournful horns that underline this unhappy situation, Boothe, one of reggae’s most lauded vocalists, shakes your ideas as well as your hips here.
Bunny Wailer – Blackheart Man
Children in Jamaica were told to avoid Rastas, counsel that treated these serious religious adherents like bogeymen. Bunny Wailer recalls this in a song that melds folklore, his own upbringing, and the Rastafarian beliefs he acquired when he understood the reality of the situation. Full of his customary stateliness and gentle, folky way with a melody, “Blackheart Man” was an instant classic when released in 1976.
Blackheart Man
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Bob Andy – Life
Bob Andy was reggae’s philosopher, singing his best songs in an utterly controlled, highly soulful voice. While he is best known for hit duets with Marcia Griffiths such as a cover of “Young, Gifted And Black,” his own material is just as strong and deep. “Life,” from 1972, urges the listener to take a path of creativity, effort, and peace. If you think that sounds rather bumptious, this gifted writer was not fooled into thinking he had his subject worked out: Bob sings “Heed my foolish words.”
The Abyssinians – Satta Massagana
Rastafarianism had been an alternative way of life in Jamaica for decades, its adherents scorned like a criminal underclass. Reggae gave this religion an outlet for its reasonings, and among the key figures who put it on record were the harmony trio The Abyssinians. “Satta Massagana,” meaning sit down and give thanks, is delivered with religious fervor; the group even sings in Amharic, showing true devotion. First recorded in 1969, it has resonated in reggae ever since.
Culture – Innocent Blood
Culture, a vocal group, came to prominence in 1977 with Two Sevens Clash,