GREETINGS & NEWS

“If black people knew their glorious past, then they would be more inclined to respect themselves.”

MARCUS GARVEY (1887 – 1940)

Greetings and welcome to PANTHER NEWSLETTER ISSUE 9.

Earlier this month, one of our greatest singers of Reggae music Lincoln ‘Sugar’ ‘Booga’ Minott sadly passed away in Kingston Jamaica, he will be sorely missed.  He leaves us with his numerous songs of hope and joy.  Check out NORMSKI’S  ARTICLE as PANTHER NEWSLETTER pays tribute to him with sixteen of his greatest hits.

A big shout goes out to our new readers here in the UK, USA and Canada; you know the drill, ‘Welcome aboard; rock and come in.’

This month we have more or less our usual suspects; a remarkable SPECIAL GUEST, a special OUR STORY feature; in celebration of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie’s Earthday July 23; an exclusive NORMSKI’S ARTICLE and everybody’s favourite THE CULTURE CORNER.

“So no matter what the people say.  PANTHER NEWSLETTER leads the way.  It’s the order of the day, from I, Ras Normski as I would say!”

Enjoy PANTHER NEWSLETTER: ISSUE 9

NEWS

 Gangsters, politicians, cocaine and bankers

(Lessons from the saga of Dudus in Jamaica)

Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, alleged drug lord and leader of Jamaican gang, the Shower Posse, was arrested on 22 June 2010.   Coke’s arrest, writes Horace Campbell, opens up the possibility to ‘reveal the full extent of the corruption of the politics of Jamaica and the Caribbean by their rulers in collaboration with the intelligence, commercial and banking infrastructures of the United States’.  Read on…

A War For Your Soul

A filmmaker and public speaker, Reggie Bullock is a vibrant voice and accomplished role model for the youth of today.  On March 15, 2009, Reggie’s short film “A War For Your Soul” was independently released on the internet, and has catapulted as a “stirring, epic and inspirational” video for today’s generation”.  Over 6 million internet viewers have watched “A War For Your Soul” in one year.  The video has garnered praise from mayors, city leaders, youth and civic organizations in almost every major country around the world, sparking dialogue in encouraging adults to play a more active role in educating children.  If you haven’t watched it; watch it here…

DNA Proves That Chinese Are African

Surprised?  Check out the video right here…

Mike Leigh Attacks UK Film Council axe Decision

The Department for Culture, Media and Sports decision to axe the UK Film Council is “Totally out of order,” according to film-maker Mike Leigh; here…

Levi Roots

Dragon’s Den sensation Levi Roots used to struggle financially, but with his business, new TV show and book, things are a little different these days.  Read all about it…

Get Well Soon Birdie

False rumours about the death of Mighty Sparrow.  His family is disgusted.  Here…

Health & Well-Being

Whose Vagina Is It Really?

Immersed in Sandy Daley’s book is frank advice for women who may have been facing issues with their bodies and sexuality all their lives.  Daley hopes the book will make a difference in women’s lives, so they understand that there are no barriers to gaining and maintaining control.  Read on…

Prostate Cancer Awareness

For men to read and learn about prevention, the symptoms and treatment.  Click here…

Obituary

 Jamaican Singer Sugar Minott dies aged 54

Jamaican singer and producer Lincoln ‘Sugar Booga’ Minott unexpectantly died earlier this month at the age of 54.  Minott launched a solo career in the 1970s and recorded for the famed Studio One label.  He went on to nurture new talent with his own Black Roots and Youth Promotion labels.

SPECIAL GUEST

She hails from the islands of Trinidad & Tobago, and is currently based in Nottingham England where she helps to promote and support local artists and organizations in various events in and around that region.  Through her non-profit organization Cultural Vibrations she strives to: “Take Black Culture into the mainstream, to bring people together as one; by gathering all cultures together so that we can embrace all that we have in common.”

PANTHER NEWSLETTER is proud to welcome our SPECIAL GUEST this month, a remarkable woman Leanda ‘Rastarella’ Falade.  I hooked up with Rastarella to reason with her, about her and her works.  Tune in to her interview here…

OUR STORY

THE ROOTS OF RAS TAFARI

Compiled by Norman Samuda-Smith (2010)

 

INTRODUCTION

 WEEP NOT: BEHOLD THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH,

THE ROOT OF DAVID, HATH PREVAILED TO OPEN THE BOOK,

AND TO LOOSE THE SEVEN SEALS THEREOF.

REVELATION 5: 5

 

Centuries after these words were written in the Bible, on November 2^nd 1930, Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia.  He took the name Haile Selassie I, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  He became the 225^th ruler of the 2000 year old Solomonic Dynasty.  In Jamaica, religious men who were used to reading between the lines of the King James Bible realised the coronation as fulfilment of Biblical prophecy…

To read more about the origins of Jamaica and how the Rastafari movement started; click here…

NORMSKI’S ARTICLE

______________________________________________________________________________

IN MMEMORY OF  LINCOLN “SUGAR” MINOTT

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Sunrise: May 25 1956  –  Sunset: July 10 2010 

 _____________________________________________________________________________

Lincoln “Sugar” “Booga” Minott, one of our greatest singers of Reggae music sadly passed away earlier this month, July 10 at University Hospital Kingston Jamaica aged just 54. He had been suffering from the heart condition Angina. Sugar began his recording career in 1969 as a member of a three-man vocal harmony group called The African Brothers. Together with fellow members Tony Tuff and Derrick Howard, they created a number of inspiring recordings, following the traditions of The Wailers, The Maytals and The Abyssinians.  After a few of these memorable songs, The African Brothers went their separate ways.

The 1970’s was to see the second decade of Jamaican home-grown popular music. The songs that originated from the recording studios of western Kingston were before the days of digital computerised sounds, so the singers and players of instruments were totally reliant on their individual and group skills.  Songs were carefully created at rehearsals and jam sessions. Sugar Minottshot to fame in the late 1970’s early 80’s and became a regular favourite in the Reggae dancehalls all over the world when he recorded a srting of hits from Clement Coxsone Dodd’s world famous Studio One record label.

During his career, Sugar Minott was devoted to helping fellow sufferers and talented singers and musicians from the ghetto that had ambitions of getting a break in the music industry.  He named one of his companies Youth Promotions, guiding and inspiring young artists like Barry Brown, Tristan Palmer, Nitty Gritty, Tenor Saw and Little John to name a few; and also producing songs for artists such as Captain Sinbad.

Sugar Minott broke down barriers with his music composition and his business dealings. He didn’t want his productions to be determined by an executive producer, an A&R man and a record company. He wanted total artistic control over his music and the artists that he felt were talented enough to deserve time and energy being spent on developing their careers. In order to finance these recordings, he would often record for other producers and record companies simply to get the money to concentrate on his own productions. He leaves us with his numerous songs of hope and joy.

PANTHER NEWSLETTER salutes Sugar Minottwho sadly passed away in Kingston Jamaica, July 10 2010.

Fifteen of Sugar’s Best

African Girl (featuring Ranking Dread), Give Me Jah Jah  , Man Hungry , Hard Time Pressure: featuring Captain Sinbad, Is It True, Jah Jah Children, Jahovia, Lick Shot, Lovers Rock, My Love Is True, Oh Mr DC, Penny For My Song, The Dang Dang Song, Try Love, Vanity.

 Everyting Bless

THE CULTURE CORNER

________________________________________________________________

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture, is like a tree without roots.”

 Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1887 – 1940)

Every year in October we celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Black history is with us every second, minute, hour, week, month and year. PANTHER NEWSLETTER’S CULTURE CORNER will attempt to enlighten you with what they never told you in your history class. Our story will be told right here – So enjoy the journey of clarification.

________________________________________________________________

OUR ROOTS

The Mousgoum House is the most visually unusual example of African houses built by the Mousgoum people of Cameroon. The houses are arranged in circles with the doors opening onto the central yard.

The Sande Society Bandu Mask from Sierra Leone in West Africa is interesting because women’s secret societies are rare in West Africa.  It is a two faced mask. The two faces share a common hat.  A design probably inspired by early seamen boaters.

The Dogon Mask from Mali in Africa is a circumcision mask which is not supposed to be seen by women. The mask is an important part of the Dogon ritual.

Timbuktu (also known as Tombouctou) is a city located near the Niger River in the African country of Mali. Timbuktu has a population of approximately 30,000 and is a major Saharan Desert trading post.

 _______________________________________________________________

TRIBUTE TO OUR S/HEROES

Isis the Goddess in Ancient Egypt was worshipped as the ideal mother and wife as well as matron of nature and magic. She was the friend of slaves, sinners, artisans, the downtrodden, as well as listening to the prayers of the wealthy, maidens, aristocrats and rulers.  Isis is the Goddess of motherhood, magic and fertility.

Hatshepsut Queen of Kemet (Ancient Egypt the land of the blacks – 1503–1482 BC) Hatshepsut means Foremost of Noble Ladies was the fifth pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt.  She is generally regarded as one of the most successful pharaohs, reigning longer than any other woman of an Egyptian dynasty. She ascended to the throne upon the death of her king-brother Thutmose II. In exercising her power, she involved herself in foreign campaigns, a concentration on domestic affairs, extensive building and commercial ventures. The most famous of her commercial ventures was the Punt expedition in which goods and produce were acquired from the rich market there to be brought back to Kemet. Even before becoming the legal ruler, Hatshepsut was actively pushing things dearest to the hearts of all African leaders: the expansion of foreign trade, international diplomatic relations, perfection of national defence, vast public building programs, securing the south and the north through either peace or war, and one of her ‘pet projects’, building a great navy for both commerce and war. Her success on most of these fronts made her one of the giants of the race.

Cleopatra VII Queen of Kemet(Ancient Egypt the land of the blacks – 69 BC – 30 BC) was the last person to rule Egypt as an Egyptian pharaoh and was the most famous of seven matriarchs to bear this name. Cleopatra rose to the throne at seventeen and strived to elevate Egypt to world supremacy. Although known to be of African and Greek descent, she is still deliberately portrayed as being white. By mastering many different languages and several African dialects, she became instrumental in reaching beyond the borders of Egypt making it the world number one super-power at the time. Cleopatra had three children with Mark Antony, twins Cleopatra Selene II and Alexander Helios, and another son, Ptolemy Philadelphus. After losing the Battle of Actium to Octavian’s forces, Antony committed suicide. Cleopatra followed suit, according to tradition killing herself by means of an asp bite on August 12, 30 BC. Egypt then became the Roman province of Aegyptus. Cleopatra also represented herself as the reincarnation of an Egyptian Goddess, her patron goddess was Isis.

Mansa Kankan Mussa (King of Mali 1306 to 1332) was a flamboyant leader and world figure.  Mansa Mussa distinguished himself as a man who did everything on a grand scale. An accomplished businessman, he managed vast resources to benefit his entire kingdom. He was also a scholar, and imported noteworthy artists to heighten the cultural awareness of his people. In 1324 he led his people on the Hadj, a holy pilgrimage from Timbuktu to Mecca. His caravan consisted of 72,000 people whom he led safely across the Sahara Desert and back, a total distance of 6,496 miles.  So spectacular was this event, that Mansa Mussa gained the respect of scholars and traders throughout Europe, and won international prestige for Mali as one of the world’s largest and wealthiest empires.

Sunni Ali Ber (King of Songhay 1464 to 1492) When Sunni Ali Ber came to power, Songhay was a small kingdom in the western Sudan. But during his twenty-eight-year reign, it grew into the largest, most powerful empire in West Africa. Sunni Ali Ber built a remarkable army and with this ferocious force, the warrior king won battle after battle. He routed marauding nomads, seized trade routes, took villages, and expanded his domain. He captured Timbuktu, bringing into the Songhay Empire a major centre of commerce, culture, and Moslem scholarship.

Menelek II (King of Kings of Abyssinia 1844 to 1913) Proclaimed to be a descendant of the legendary King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, Menelek was the overshadowing figure of his time in Africa. He converted a group of independent kingdoms into the strong, stable empire known as the United States of Abyssinia (Ethiopia). His feat of pulling together several kingdoms which often fiercely opposed each other earned him a place as one of the great statesmen of African history. His further accomplishments in dealing on the international scene with the world powers, coupled with his stunning victory over Italy in the 1896 Battle of Adwa, an attempt to invade his country, placed him among the great leaders of world history and maintained his country’s independence until 1935.

Here ends your history lesson for this month.

________________________________________________________________

 Log on for more CULTURE CORNER next month and remember…

“God and Nature first made us what we are, and then out of our own creative genius we make ourselves what we want to be.  Follow always that great law.  Let the sky and God be our limit and eternity our measurement.”

 Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1887 – 1940)

‘Til next month – Everyting Bless.