Ras Anada, Bingi Vibes Mix launch albums in memory of Bob Marley

MARTIN NYIRENDA
Correspondent | Wednesday April 21, 2010 00:00

To cap it all 14 other local artists will launch a compilation album called Bingi Vibes Mix Vol 1. The launch will take place during a live concert to be held on May 15 at the Civic Centre in Gaborone, as a celebration of the death and legacy of the reggae maestro, Bob Marley.

The two albums have been locally produced at Bingi Vibes Studio in Tlokweng.  'When we finished the production of the compilation album last month we thought why not dedicate these albums to the legendary Bob Marley, who has been our source of inspiration?' Ras Anada said.

Since the 29th commemoration of the death of Bob 'Nesta' Marley falls on May 11, the date for the launch of the two albums has been set for the May 15, 2010.

Bob Marley, whose songs are rated revolutionary, militant and full of prophesy, through reggae is also renowned for speaking out for the poor, oppressed and less-privileged members of society.  Ras Anada goes on: 'It is songs like Africa Unite that inspired me to get into music and to contribute to making that unity a reality hence my working with brethren from different parts of Africa in a beautiful and welcoming country like Botswana. Upon realising the importance of African unity as being pivotal to the future development and upliftment of Africa and having learnt that the first man to attempt to make this unity a reality was none other than His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I,  I decided to dedicate an album to Him', Ras Anada further revealed.

To Ras Anada, this is how the album Sing Selassie was hatched, an album consisting of 13 tracks; from Ancient Africa, though to Rasta is The Future, followed by Slavery, Natty Sambwa, Song of Zion, Sing Selassie, True Love, OAU, Taya Mfuti, Haile Selassie a feat with Fire Supah, I have seen Jah, Too Many Brethren and the acoustic version of Sing Selassie, a feat with LoGmmth.

All the songs have been written, composed and arranged by Ras Anada, produced by LoGmmth and co-produced by Prophet Nahum. Three videos have been shot from the Sing Selassie album, which have been playing on Botswana Television (Btv) and eBotswana(former GBC), as well as MUVI television from Zambia.

Says Ras Anada: 'In this 18-track compilation album consisting of roots and dancehall reggae, 14 different artists have been featured, among them three empresses, Sister Ester with Daughters of Zion, Bubbles with flirty flirty and Marshal with Africa. Some artists have featured two songs while others have only featured one.

This compilation is the first in a series of many volumes with the same and many more other artists to be produced under Bingi Vibes Productions.  The rest of the artists on the Bingi Vibes Mix Vol 1 compilation album are: Tafari Son, The Black Strugglers (TBS), Ras Tshipa with dub poetry, I Jahman States, Prophet Nahum, LoGmmth, Jahkey, Mbi Reggae, Fire Supah and King Solo.'

Bingi Vibes directors say that the challenge is the promotion, publishing and distribution of recorded works, adding: 'We are trying to do everything by ourselves in houses, which can be very involving. We are currently working on the second album for Ras Anada as well as the Bingi Vibes Mix Vol 2'.

One of the aims for Bingi Nite Vibes Productions is to promote local talent in music, especially among the youths, adding: 'This is what prompted my partner Tebogo Mosugelo a.k.a Tafari Son and me to form the Bingi Nite Vibes Production Company. We also realized that one genre of music, being reggae/dancehall, was not receiving as much attention as other genres in terms of recording and promotion.

This being our genre of music, we thus decided to focus on recording and promoting this genre of music while at the same time, recording for as well as working with artists specializing in other genre of music'.

According to the directors, reggae music seems to have a raw deal in terms of getting air play as most radio DJs assume that reggae music has no followers.  The directors explained: 'Further, we realised that there was a lot of talent out there craving to bring out their God given gifts but because of constraints such as paying for studio time, they would not have this talent exposed.  Therefore, in promoting local talent, the idea of a compilation album was mooted.

'This is just the beginning of bigger things to come. Like Bob says, this music will find the right people and grow bigger and bigger. We feel that the African man is the right man to receive this music of hope, it is the food we need to free our people from poverty with.'

'This year's show, at which we shall be privileged to launch our two albums, will be graced with a lot of empresses', quipped Ras Anada. Apart from the three empresses on the compilation album, we shall also feature as guest artists Miss Jamaica with dub poetry and Peaches, a well known song writer and poet.' said Ras Anada, adding: 'We shall also be graced with Queen Selector from RB1 who shall perform the master of ceremonies duties with Kaone, last year's Big Brother Africa Revolution representative from Botswana'.

Ras Anada disclosed that other guest artists are expected to feature in the concert, who include the revived Cool Trees, the Shepards with I Jahman States, Stane a robust rock band, Apolo Diablo, Gun powder, Chanty Killer, Kaone and Crespo just to mention a few, as well as DJs Black October, Ancient and Rothle from Selebi-Phikwe, adding: 'The performances will be tight and the music crisp with a blessed love atmosphere and reggae fans, as well as other music lovers, will certainly not be disappointed.'

Bingi Vibes Production successfully organised its first Bob Marley concert held in Gaborone in May 2007 and arranged another the following year at Tlokweng border gate, including the Peter Tosh memorial hosted in September 2008.