An estimated 4,000 fans crowded into the City Center on Saturday for a one night only show by Reggae superstar Sizzla Kolanji. More than just a performer or singer, the Jamaican Rastafarian is an icon in the Caribbean, and probably throughout the third world where his strident messages and devout Rastafarianism are widely celebrated. And nowhere more than in Belize where he was greeted like royalty. 7NEWS was at the airport when his chartered plane form Jamaica touched down.
The red green and gold flags awaited him at the airport carried by devout Rastafarians eager to meet the man they call a prophet and a high priest. Outside the drums played and the crowd of mostly Rastafarians mobbed him as Sizzla calmly walked by and climbed into a waiting Cadillac Escalade. But he wouldn’t leave so easily as the mob hemmed in the vehicle wanting to hear more from the musician they call a prophet.
Keith Swift,
How does it feel to be in Belize Sizzla?
Sizzla Kolangi, Reggae Entertainer
“It feels nice. The feeling is mutual; the same natural vibes and the warm welcome. You know the people free, happy, and nice. You can see the red, gold, and green waving. It is a pleasure being here and much respect.”
Keith Swift,
Most people see you as a prophet. Do you see yourself as such?
Sizzla Kolangi,
“Yes. Each and every black man’s son is a priest, prophet and king. You know their daughters are prophetess, princesses, and empresses.”
Keith Swift,
How hard is it being a prophet and a product?
Sizzla Kolangi,
“It is not hard at all. You just have to be free. Just live and love the people. We are just here to create a reasonable balance with the people.”
And like this crowd, the people can’t get enough of Sizzla Kolanji; Belizeans have bought thousands of his non-stop succession of CDs. And with the lion of Judah nugget of gold around his neck, Sizzla also had a message.
Sizzla Kolangi,
“My message is peace and love; education, cleanliness, no violence, and no drugs. I say no drugs but some people can’t control the marijuana, they can’t manage it. But marijuana is a herb. Things you go in the laboratory and use your chemicals to make - that is drugs. But the natural herb from the earth is just natural herbs. To the Belizean youths I just say much love. I Sizzla Kolangi am representing the Rastafarian family. Just representing.”
Keith Swift,
A recurring theme in your music is the empowerment of Black women. Why is that so important to you?
Sizzla Kolangi,
“Because black woman is the mother to the black nation. Honor thy mothers and thy fathers so thy days may be long upon the earth. Who create you? It is mother and father create you. It is mother and dad go together and get the power from the most high so one love to all the women.”
Q:_You have a song called woman black woman and child. What inspired you to write that song?
Sizzla Kolangi,
“Same black woman. They are just pretty and nice and beautiful. We don’t give our women enough credit. We have to give black women the credit and let them know who they are. So when we do these things they will know so we give the women them the credit and they will in return give the black man credit. It is one family. No illusion. Africa. I come from Jamaica and the vibes right. ”
And with that, Sizzla signed dozens of autographs on dollar bills bearing a picture of a woman who’s been a recurring theme in his songs:
Sizzla Kolangi,
“Queen Elizabeth. Well you know they are the world leaders. They are the ones that brought black people around here so they are the ones who are supposed to give the authority for all the ships and all the governments and relevant authorities to take us home. We are dealing with love. We don’t have time to fight. In order for black people to go home and be released out of the system, they (the world leaders) got to speak and say you children get those ships and bring home those black people.”
Repatriation and Rastafari, subjects that Sizzla never strays far from
[Sizzla Chanting Lyrics for Praise Ye Jah]
Sizzla and the firehouse band performed a literally blazing one and a half-hour set to a very enthusiastic city center audience. No violence was reported.