‘Talk to me if you want more, say something people’ – Burning Spear

Sifelani Tsiko
Senior Writer
Like the air we breathe, reggae music seems to be everywhere.
The global reggae movement that many thought would be a passing fad has for more than six-and-half decades grown to become a permanent part of world culture.
Burning Spear’s ‘One People Africa Tour’ massive gig on October 18 at the Glamis Arena in Zimbabwe has left a permanent imprint on the minds of reggae music lovers and the Rastafari community in the country.
The 79–year–old Jamaican roots-reggae legend is loved in Zimbabwe and his great and electric performance served as an inspiration to his many fans.
Burning Spear’s trailblazing contributions to the global reggae movement have helped raise the aspirations of millions of people.
The tunes he belted out here – ‘Jah Is My Driver’, ‘Come Come’, ‘Slavery Days’, ‘Creation Rebel’, ‘Not Stupid’, ’Zion Higher’, ‘People of the World’ and his timeless classic ‘Marcus Garvey’ told vivid stories about the realities of black people.
The master therapist’s words and rhymes tap into the consciousness of people who yearn for a decent life.
He defied age with his penetrating presence on stage. The sound was crystal clear and his message about the realities of black people was defiant.
“Africa for Africans. We declare to the world that Africa must be free. One Africa, one people,” he chanted to a thunderous applause from the crowd.
“Mama Africa, mama Africa – Africa north, Africa east, Africa west and Africa south – One Africa, one people.”
A lot of other musicians have completely forgotten about this vital dimension of the African spirit.
Where the rest have forgotten about African unity, the colonial stress which black people experienced as slaves and labourers on the farms, in the mines, in the harsh industrial complex, or as peasants suffering the brunt of oppression and forced resettlement, Burning Spear’s music served his fans with the ‘where words fail, music speaks’ kind of songs.
His music provided that one artistic medium that transported the reggae music fans from the days of slavery and colonialism to the present, subtle, and complex realities of neo-colonialism.
The masterly delivery of his songs, punctuated with his serious and skillful drumming, left the crowd in awe, animated, and with that indescribable pleasure that for a moment swept away their anxieties, pain, and tears.
For a moment, joy, smiles, Rastafari solidarity, and hope for the future enveloped the Glamis Arena as he strolled onto the stage to beat his two drums.
The crowd went wild even though Burning Spear never jumped around on stage that much. The fans could feel his energy far and wide at the arena.
“Talk to me if you want some more. Say something, say something people,” chanted the reggae music legend, bantering with the crowd and radiating a rare spiritual experience.
His music tagged at the heart and lives of the audience. The crowd held firm even when at 12.12 am, a brief power black-out disturbed the rhythm and flow of Burning Spear’s powerful vibes.
Fans were never disappointed or disgruntled by this glitch. They never threw beer cans, water bottles or other things onto the stage.
Despite this short-lived outage, the performance went on without a hitch. Burning Spear did not stop. He continued singing.
The audience enjoyed every moment, with many turning their phones’ flashlights on in praise of one of the greatest reggae artiste to ever grace Zimbabwe in years.
At the end of the show, many were forever grateful and said they would keep the show’s memories forever.
Burning Spear is an elder statesman of roots reggae and no doubt his works at the arena got well-deserved recognition from Zimbabwean fans.
Even though he is now 79, Burning Spear still has gas in the tank.
The ‘One People Africa Tour’ gig shows that Winston Rodney, better known as Burning Spear, is still one of reggae music’s most consistent and powerful voices.
No wonder then that his singing style, described by one musical critic as “unique with a soulful growl, backed with potently heavy and penetrating sound”, will forever be etched in the minds of reggae musical faithful in Zimbabwe.