Colossium Magazine September Issue_2019 | Page 53

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 Back to the Contents page