Bunny Wailer Interview
Ital: Yes, it's indeed a pleasure to have in our presence on
Afiwi.com the original legendary Wailer; I'm talking about
Jah-B, Bunny Wailer! Greetings in the name of the most true
king, Rastafari.
Jah-B: Everytime! Afiwi-sah?
Ital: Ah-fi-we sin-ting fe-true man! (it's our something
for true)
Jah-B: Well I love the name you-know, 'cause most of the time
we tend to always imitate other people's things, but when
afiwi -sin-ting; we can emphasize, improvise, and
exercise more abilities within that respect. So just the title,
afiwi.com, I Jah-B endorse that one million percent of
the time. All youth in the ghetto and all talented youths
haffi-memba seh; (have to remember that) afiwi.com,
afiwi-Reggae music, afiwi-Bob Marley you-understand?
So if we can embrace those things with the attitude that
afiwi! (its-for-us, ours), you know that you're going to
treat it with more manners
..
Ital: (laugh)
Jah-B:
..and womanners too!!
Ital & Jah-B: (laugh)
Ital: Rastafari everytime Jah-B! Just like you mentioned,
afiwi.com. The Wailers, Bunny Wailer, Jah-B. You've taken
our music from JA and spread it through the Caribbean. With
you being with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh starting this whole
process; what would you like to see from your legacy from
what you've contributed with us and for us? What would you
like to see happen in the future with our music?
Jah-B: Well, first the youths of this time and dispensation
have to
recognize the true value that Reggae music has brought to
the global community. Wherein people have changed their
lifestyle, pattern, fashion, and conviction; spiritually,
morally, physically and all other ally's where Reggae
music is concerned. Had it not been for Reggae music, we
still would have that big question sign. But Reggae has
answered a lot of questions and I think that I'm satisfied at
this point in time to see the achievements that Reggae
music has achieved for itself and for all because it's
greater than us you-know? The music itself you-know, it's
like a great big tree that brings forth fruit in its due season
that we all benefit from; and I like to see the youths
embrace the value of this great tree and you-know, do the
same things as the people before them who planted it,
nourished it, watered it, and protected it, to do the same.
Ital: Rastafari everytime. I agree with that 100% of the
time! You
know that since you mentioned "The Tree", Fig Tree. You've
planted a tree now for years and your fig tree now is
beginning to blossom. I get to see that an artist for example,
by the name of Nereus Joseph, has paid tribute to you on an
upcoming single with the track called "Fig Tree". Now
you've been very instrumental with Reggae music going
forward through the 60's and 70's. Do you see yourself being
a strong person giving guidance to the yout-dem in the ghetto
who are under so much strife right now? They look to
somebody like a big figurehead like Jah-B as a leading soldier
fe (to) guide us. What would you say about that Jah-B?
Jah-B: Well the thing about it is that I have a lifestyle
that I'm not
responsible for. The Father himself created I according to
his will, and I'm like a tool and a vessel in his hand, and
all I do is his will; and his will must be done on earth as it
is in Zion. Every youth in the ghetto, not just Jamaican
ghetto, all ghetto's of the world who have listened to the
music coming out of The Wailers, Bob Marley, Peter
Tosh, and Bunny Wailer individually, will always salute
The Wailers in that respect. And I as an individual Wailer,
who has survived to be here to be involved in the
protection and restoration of The Wailers' legacy, I'm
proud of all the youths within this time to see that they are
yet strong and I'm looking forward for more strength
within the youths 'cause unity-is-strength. More strength.
Ital: Rastafari know-seh dat is true. Last year when you
came and
you performed on the Bob Marley festival in Miami, the
crowd in Miami was very receptive to Jah-B and your
performance. I'm not going to let you tell the crowd this year
about what's going to be happening, but I know you have
some surprises in store for the Miami massive, no-true?
Jah-B: Well I don't know if-a-surprise-yu-fe-call-it-still
but,
people come out with a certain amount of expectation you-
know, and I & I as artists will always try to anticipate the
anticipation of the people to bring forth surprises, so
tomorrow can be full of that; prizes and surprises.
Ital & Jah-B (laugh)
Ital: One other question I'd like to ask. Do you think it
will
happen in the near future where South Florida will be able to
see Jah-B perform solo with an exclusive performance? Most
of the time when Jah-B comes, you're on a line-up with
several other artists. Do you think the possibility will always
exist for
Jah-B: Yeah man! Well think about it nuh, that as we celebrate
Bob, we know everyone wants to have their little testimony
within that respect. So you'll find that you'll get a short
show from Jah-B based on that. It's limited, but then again,
I'm looking forward to giving that kind of performance so
that people can really go home with something that will
serve them till they see Jah-B again; and I'm looking
forward to that. I've got new albums coming out. Those
new albums will require live performance of Jah-B for the
people to feel what's live compared to what's coming on
CD. So I'm looking forward to a lot of that, and I'm going
to set up a business here also in Miami, and the family is
already here. So you're going to see more of Jah-B in the
future, and I'm looking forward to that.
Ital: Well we love to have you here 'cause the name Marley
is an
institution in South Florida and Jah-B is right in the same
path, so it's a wonderful thing to have you here; Yes-I
Jah-B: Yes-I! It's a family thing so as I say, I'm satisfied
with
what's taking place. Even these youths now, the Ghetto
Youths Crew and taking it to the next level; to know that
although there's a legacy and there's an inheritance, but
there's a saying that "Jah bless the child that has his own",
and I can see them-yout have a blessing.
Ital: One other thing I must add for those who don't know.
One of
the popular things on afiwi.com is the "Caribbean Hall of
Fame" where we acknowledge anybody from the Caribbean
of worldwide significance that has had a positive impact on
the world. They're in the "Caribbean Hall of Fame". Bob
is
there; Peter is there; Jah-B is also there. Jah-B, one final
word for the massive on afiwi.com.
Jah-B: Yes as I said, I love the title and I know everyman
a-go
love it too. As anything that relates to afiwi, 'cause you see
our language, it's I-niversal; and when some people would
say "it's our dot com" we-would-a-jus-say "afiwi.com"
Big up! Log on! What I would say further is log onto
www.afiwi.com 'cause you see if you want good
information concerning Reggae music, history, the Bible,
the spirituality, log onto www.afiwi.com. I Jah-Bunny
Wailer Say So. Big Up!
Ital: Rastafari!! Jah-B, many thanks! Jah continue to bless
you
and everything that you do. You are the last living Wailer
that we have and I want to let you know that here at
afiwi.com, we treasure and love you for the works that you
have done from when you were a "likkle-bit and tallawah-so"
til now you're one of our elders in the neighbourhood. We
look upto the-I as one of our responsible elders, and we love
the-I fe dat. So Jah continuously bless you for the wonderful
works you perform. You put out a wonderful album last year;
one of my favourite tracks was Ethiopia.
Jah-B: Yeah
Ital: You had a brilliant album last year. It's a shame
they never
recognized you for the Grammy, 'cause it was due that.
Jah-B: Yeah, but it never really release. It was just like
a pre-
release, so the album is still yet to come. It might be sold
in single form or maybe as a double album; because
there's yet another album that's on the table now called
"Bunny Wailer Original Dancehall Style". As we see the
dancehall business needs some kind of (you-know)
decoration. It needs some rejuvenation, so what I'd like to
do on this album "Communication", is to combine it
where one is dealing with the message and one is dealing
with cleaning up the dance business, so you know this
album is also the kind of album that a lot of ancient
original dancehall posse of old times, they would find
tracks on this album to relate to in this kind of format as
well as the nowadays youth will get a taste of those tracks
of old times in a nowadays format. So that's how I've
designed it. So look out for that album, "Communication &
Bunny Wailer Original Dancehall Style" as a double-cd as
well as a single for those who can't afford to buy the
double, they can buy that one. Respect.
Ital: Yes Jah-B! Blessed love everytime.
Jah-B: Yes! Jah-Jah
Ital: Jah-Jah
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