Reggae Royalty
Describing who Ziggy Marley is and what he does is no easy task.
Being born the first son of reggae music legends Bob and Rita Marley practically makes him royalty. Childhood memories that influenced his musical journey include sitting in on recording sessions with his dad, travelling to Africa for the historic Zimbabwe Independence concert with his father and his band The Wailers, and when his mother stood up to gangsters.
So, naturally when he penned his own songs as a teenager, he wrote about social issues, the situation in Jamaica (his birthplace) and politics. When he tired of that, he decided to sing about spirituality and love.
Ziggy was only 13 years old when his father lost his battle with cancer at 36.
Most of Ziggy’s early career saw him performing with his brother Stephen and sisters Cedella and Sharon in Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers.
This family history, along with his solo career, has earned him a loyal and international fan base and five Grammy awards in his 30-plus years as a performer.
Ziggy says one of his dreams is to find a “timeless sound that will affect people on a deep spiritual level,” while his wish for humanity would be “to find a sound that would bring peace to the world.”
He hopes he can bring these sounds to his audiences and that it is an experience that is more than just listening to music and that he can move them spiritually.
When Ziggy Marley needs inspiration to carry on he looks to trees, birds and nature to bring balance to his busy life. He loves coming to Canada because it is so beautiful.
One of his father’s goals was to be able to control and own his music, so he created a recording label — Tuff Gong International. Ziggy has helped keep that goal alive for his father and their family and recently the label has expanded to Tuff Gong Worldwide. Reggae’s first son also hosts a popular monthly radio show on Sirius XM. He started a charity called URGE which gives a hand up to people in Jamaica, Ethiopia and other developing nations.
If you have seen the animated movie Shark Tale you would have heard Ziggy voicing the character of Ernie the jellyfish and singing one of his father’s songs with fellow musician Sean Paul. This year his first children’s book I love you too was released. He also supports the organization Little Kids Rock which provides free musical instruments and lessons to public school children in the USA.
Not only is Marley a gifted musician, children’s author, film producer, radio host, father and philanthropist, he is a humble man with a dream that benefits and includes all of humanity. At the root of it all are his intelligent, compassionate lyrics and danceable music — a sound that you won’t want to miss.
You can catch his inspiring show at Victoria’s Royal Theatre on Thurs., June 27. Tickets are available at rmts.bc.ca. M
— By Teoni Spathelfer
National Aboriginal Day
Celebrate National Aboriginal Day in Sidney, Fri., June 21.
The highlight of this year’s celebration is the unveiling of “Medicine Healer,” a six-foot marble sculpture of a First Nations woman created by prominent Vancouver Island sculptor Michel Beauvais (Kahnawake Mohawk band), and donated by the Winspear family. Beauvais will be on site for the unveiling and to participate in the welcoming ceremony, starting at noon.
Coast Salish artist Doug LaFortune will be on hand for carving demonstrations from 2-5pm., and works by Virgil Sampson, Charles Elliott and LaFortune will be exhibited all afternoon.
Kids can spend the day playing traditional Aboriginal and Metis games.
At 5:30pm, Beauvais will be welcomed onto traditional Coast Salish land (where the centre stands) — the home of the Tsawout, Tsartlip, Tseycum and Pauquchin bands.
Elliott and LaFortune, the artists who carved the four houseposts at the centre’s entrance will also take part in the welcoming ceremony.
The Le-La-La Dancers, a First Nations dance company will be performing at the Beacon Park Pavillion from noon to 5pm.
If you can’t make it to the Saanich Peninsula, visit Camosun College’s Lansdowne campus for a celebration kicking off at 1:30pm at the Aboriginal Gathering Place — Na’tsa’maht. The traditional welcome will be followed by performances by Victoria’s Unity Drummers, the Ahousaht Drummers, a traditional medicine workshop with Delia Rice Sylvester, a kids market and a smoked salmon barbecue with bannock. The event is a collaboration between UVic’s Office of Indigenous Affairs and Camosun’s Aboriginal Education Community Connections Office and CUPE 2081. M
Dylan Moran
Award-winning Irish stand up comedian, writer, actor and filmmaker Dylan Moran is coming to UVic’s Farquhar Auditorium Sun., June 30.
Best known for his wicked observational comedy, the U.K. sitcom Black Books (2000-2004), and his parts in Shaun of the Dead and Run Fatboy Run, Moran is performing for the first time in Victoria.
Moran is bringing his new show Yeah, Yeah, touted as dark, dry and relentlessly funny, which he’s toured to sold-out theatres across Europe and Australia and was recently the first English-speaking comedian to perform in Russia. Tickets are available at tickets.uvic.ca or 250-721-8480. M
