The Tenacity of Nelson Mandela
Artwork: VP Records
VP Music Group presents Reggae Mandela. A compilation of works reflecting on the sociopolitical journey of Nelson Mandela and the oppressive forces of apartheid in South Africa from 1962 to 1990. Released February 8, 2019, the album is available on all streaming platforms and in store.
From the trenches of apartheid to the echelons of victories, the album features thirty-six narratives. A history lesson set to music. Perhaps even a cautionary account of what can reoccur when we take our civil rights for granted. Therefore, it is challenging to have a favourite track. Relatively each song will resonate differently depending on the lifeworld of the listener. And a collective of conscience minds is best suited to maximize the listening experience. Accordingly, although the album is in celebration of Black History and Reggae, this playlist transcends the boundaries of February.
Listen keenly to the voices of the Mighty Travellers, Frankie Jones, Half Pint, Johnny Osbourne, Sugar Minott, Mystic Revealers, Yami Bolo, Snowman, Junior Murvin, Carlene Davis, The Mighty Diamonds, Charles Chaplin, Harold Butler and The Four Corners, Alpha Blondy, Aswad, UB40, Jimmy Cliff, Josey Wales, Junior Delgado, Cultural Roots, Cocoa Tea, Admiral Bailey, Danny Dread, Flourgon, Shabba Ranks, Barrington Levy, Tony Rebel, Dennis Brown, Hopeton Lindo, Brian & Tony Gold, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, and Clive Hylton. Each recounting the shared mission for justice from their respective space.
In 2013, Nelson Mandela passed away at the age of 95. A man of many achievements, he served as the first President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He is also a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. And rightfully so, since he gifted the world with his life through his altruistic efforts for freedom and justice.
Nelson Mandela is a fighter. Twenty-seven years in prison, from August 5, 1962 to February 11, 1990. While in present time we celebrate champions and achievements, the tenacity of a fighter is paramount. Because in the fight, while waves of hope exist there is no guarantee of a win, not even in the grieves of blatant injustices as apartheid.
Another interesting point about a fight is the fighter usually enters the sphere battled weary. Inherently, many battles are the crossovers of an ancestral mission for the ratification of freedoms and protection from degeneration. As such, a fight is never truly won. And the most critical space is our ignorance of its existence in history. As Marcus Garvey states, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
Therefore, while this album is an ideal purchase for Black History month, it is also a realistic acquisition for the awareness of a dark time in history. Like reggae music, black history, and civil rights is a collective movement. A joint effort of people, time, place, space, and industries. And this anthology gives all races an avenue to collectively repudiate the destruction of their victories. We can vibe, meditate, dance, and converse towards building stronger relationships and a brighter future for the next generation.
