I’m bringing Stephen Marley
down to Ghana. Stephen
needs to be in Africa. He’s an
African man. In his heart he is
an African man. Stephen has
a certain fire we need here.
We’re going to shake up this
place in a good way.
CLS: I understand you’re
involved in some sort of
movement. What movement is
that?
CG: I have a curriculum that
I teach music and production
but it’s beyond that. We
generally focus on social and
cultural development in our
communities called Lalabela.
CLS: Lalabela Alliance?
CG: The alliance is basically
the idea of bringing people
together which was inspired
by Lalibela in Ethiopia. I have
an academy and music group
under the alliance umbrella.
CLS: And you’ve been on this
project for how long now?
CG: I started in 2002 the first
time I visited South Africa. So
it actually started because I
visited Africa. I was moved by
that initial trip. I wanted to do
something that will help and
benefit the youth. It’s been
lots of ups and downs…one of
those quick times I was talking
about…a lot politics and drama
but I’m here now; and can see
the potential here. This is what
it was actually created for; I
think this is where it’s meant
to be - Ghana.
CLS: Ever been racially
profiled before?
CG: Hahaha I thought we’re
53 | Colossium . September 2019
having a music conversation?
successful. They may have
We all have
been successful as artistes
CLS: How bad is it?
but when they try to put
CG: Ummm…it’s not different
labels together and distribute
for those of us experiencing
music, they failed at that.
it. I think the difference is we
Writing and performing a
have cameras now to capture
song is different from running
some of these things and post
a record label. Just because
them on the internet and all
something has been handed
that but what’s going on now
over to you, doesn’t mean you
has always been going on. So I can manage it and that’s the
leave it to you to judge.
problem I see in emerging
CLS: Do you support other
markets like Africa.
Africa-Americans who are
CLS: Who are your favourite
saying it best to move to
African music artistes?
Africa to avoid racial profiling? CG: Fela Kuti, Osibisa,
CG: If that’s what you feel.
Sarkodie…I like Shatta Wale
But think about it, it’s not like
too. Fela was like James Brown
that’s a new idea. That’s been
and Sarkodie can flow.
said for a while but who’s
CLS: It’s been great talking to
listening? Maybe the era is
you.
different now. If moving to
CG: Yeah, it’s so easy to talk to
Africa works for you, do it. If
you too.
staying in America works for
you, do it. I won’t put myself in
the position to determine what
others should do.
CLS: You have been around
for a long time, what do you
think is wrong with African
music?
CG: Well, nothing!
CLS: Why are we not
succeeding at it then?
Lauryn Hill
CG: It is not music you’re not
succeeding at. It’s the business
side of it. Just because you do
music doesn’t mean you’re a
businessman. During my time
at Sony, there were a lot of
artistes that got label deals but
if you look at the artistes that
got label deals because they
were successful as artistes,
none of their labels were
Stephen Marley
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