RAS SAM BROWN MYSTIC, POET, ORATOR, SAINT, PAINTER

I was blessed to spend many a days reasoning with both Sam Brown and Mortimo Planno.
Ras Sam Brown photographed at the home of Robert Nesta.
56 Hope Road. Kingston. Jamaica. 1980.
Photograph © Lindsay Oliver Donald

 

 

Ras Brown is one of the most complex personalities within the Rastafarian movement. He combines in his person the attributes of a mystic, poet, orator, saint, painter, and what a government official called “a lovable rascal.” In his presence at one given moment, one feels free and relaxed, and in the next moment tense and frightened. Since the early beginnings of the movement he has...

been one of the most ardent Rastafarians and is today one of its most important poets, if not the best. Born in the parish of Trelawny in 1925, he attended the local elementary school and was so brilliant a student that it is reported he won a scholarship to a prestigious secondary school in Kingston, but failed to accept the offer because of poverty. After working at various trades he became interested in printing. By 1965, when the author [Leonard E. Barrett, Sr., THE RASTAFARIANS] met him, he was without a job and was the leader of a group of brethren in Back-O-wall. He told the author how vividly he remembered the night he heard Marcus Garvey in Edelweise Park, when he was only five years of age-a mere tot brought by his mother who was a member of the Garvey movement.

 

 

Judgement ~ Ras Sam Brown
Judgement
I pick up a Star the other day
When I reach page 9...
It cause dismay
I said my God
America mad
Being a Rastamon for that I am glad
Big bold to proclaim
Los Angeles
City of the Angel
300,000 homosexuals march
Is that fame
Or is it shame
Mayors, teachers, bull dikes, ____, pastors an priests
Everyone stan for the mark of the beast
Men dressed in nun's clothes
Them that them shall in perfect indulgence
Read Romans 1
They have got no defense
Down there gwaan to get up stand
Sodomy must be radicated
From every land
All men went their evil way
Incurable disease is their place

I pick up a Star the other day
When I reach page 9
It cause dismay
I said my God
America mad
Being a Rastamon for that I am glad
Big bold to proclaim
Los Angeles
City of the Angel
300,000 homosexuals march
Is that fame
Or is it shame
Mayors, teachers, bull dikes, ____, pastors an priests
Everyone stan for the mark of the beast
Men dressed in nun's clothes
Them that them shall in perfect indulgence
Read Romans 1
They have got no defense
Down there gwaan to get up stand
Sodomy must be radicated
From every land
All men went their evil way
Incurable disease is their place

I pick up a Star the other day
When I reach page 9
It cause dismay
I said my God
America mad
Being a Rastamon for that I am glad
Big bold to proclaim
Los Angeles
City of the Angel
300,000 homosexuals march
Is that fame
Men dressed in nun's clothes
Them that them shall in perfect indulgence
Read Romans 1
They have got no defense
Down there gwaan to get up stand
Sodomy must be radicated
From every land
All men went their evil way
Incurable disease is their place

 

ABORTION ~RAS SAM BROWN
O terrible sin abortion! It is the worst of all
Eight letters spell the deadly sin, so is downfall
The wickedness of murderess destroy the yet unborn...
They never gave the seed a chance to see creation's Morn.
There are many who defend such acts based on economy
Heartless creatures-if they had been aborted-they'd be non-entities
It is said man should multiply, he should replenish earth
Yet in the eyes of wicked men, the unborn is of no worth.
It is given to man to use all things, yet life is God's control
If God had aborted First Man, there wouldn't be a living soul
Some shades of people take hormones, they try to live forevever
Yet for the other shades of men, destrucion is their endeavor
The earth create with broad expanse that men should be prolific
But the crude acts of the seeming wise, prove men's minds are sick
When the enemies are at thy gates, thine offsprings are arrows in thy bows
With thy large united house, the enemies are laid low
Some people love their people, they control food not birth
From the born to the yet unborn each has a place on earth
So it is for all to shun such acts that man may live his days
Dread repercussion shall be their lot for persistence in evil ways.

 

#15 Beat Them ~ Ras Sam Brown
Beat them
Leave the street
Come into beat...
Beat them
Beat them
Wait a minute
Beat them
Beat them
Beat the drum
Beat the drum
Beat the drum
Let the wicked them run
Beat them
Beat them
Beat the drum
Beat the drum
Beat the drum
Let the wicked them run
Beat
Ah run come help me beat the drum
Ah run come help me beat the drum
Oh in the night
No brother got no fight
Beat the drum an make we all unite
Beat

In 1913 The Rastafarian came
With an ancient but new philosophy
He told mankind
That God must rule
His government His theocracy
The Rastamon come
To wipe out important religions
We are those come to banish fear
An free the minds of man
The isle of Jamaica
There originate
From the dust of nothing else
They were hounded harrassed an murdered
For that stand through the test
Our name an fame
Throughout every land
____ _____ _____
We make your stand
To manifest
The brotherhood of man
Beat them
Beat the drum
Beat the drum
Beat the drum
Let the wicked them run
Wait a minute
Beat them
Beat them
Beat them
Beat them
Beat them
Beat them'

 

#16 Natty March ~ Ras Sam Brown
Today man
Is engaged in conferences
Trying to find a solution...
They will have to return
What is not their's
That is the only conclusion
Religion can not escape the word of truth
Neither stand it or dispute
Rastafari Theocracy
Now tells the world the truth
Religion seeming piousness
Mark the hearts of ____
They do the most immoral things
Modern Sodom and Gomorrah
The people they mislead
Eventually reaps their own
Those saints that passed as men of God
So much afraid to die
They should be glad to go to heaven
With angel's wings they'll fly
History proves
Pastors and Priests
Are mafia and pirates
They rob and kill without fear
For each is of their flock
They do not have a care
Woe's to the pastors
That mislead the sheep
Of they're deeds we're aware
Rastafari Theocracy
Comes to smash the canker
An banish religious fear
Rastafari cannot be _____
We are here to Rastacize the earth
An enquiring man
One God One Faith One Birth
Hopes an_____
Gratifying flesh
They are weapons of destruction
They decimate
An kill innocent ___
Without the least combunciton
We cannot fight war
To bring forth peace
That is a fallacy
From the art of divine Creation
Revenge will never be
Man will have to discard such fantasy
To set his spirit free
For again this downpression
Sometimes words go ___
With numerous conferences and parties
There is still
To find of a solution
Colonization and stabilization
Has brought rich nations poor
They are now battering on they're door
They will not take no more
The money being spent on arms
Would have best been funded on food
Warmongers of earth
Your arms cannot save
They put the people in angry mood
Man is a ___ ____
____ _____ no one can tell
Daniels books are prophetic words
That predicted the doom of man
For despite the apocolypse an plans
They will not be able to stand.

 

Portrait, boy and drum.

Portrait, boy and drum. Kingston, Jamaica, 1979. © Lindsay Oliver Donald. 2013.

ITALIST CHANT – ROHAN PRESTON

I can see buckra a come
Lock-step to start a fray
Coming with them chains and munitions
But I don’t feel no way

Nesta Marley, Mosiah Garvey
A flow inna me vein
Malcolm X-mas, Luther Kingdom
Mash them down again

I can hear the missiles a hum
But Jah Jah a the conqueror
At Palmares, Addis Ababa
Duppyman conqueror

Harriet Tubman, King Shaka
Show Jah love for true
Sister Nanny, and Kenyatta
Pass their grace on to you

The one Hannibal, Nefertiti
All a them refuse to fall
Queen Mother and Mandibi
All of them are part a me

I can see the armies rolling
But Natty a the conqueror
For our fathers, foremothers
None of them a bangarang

I can hear the mountains calling
Jah Lion a the conqueror
Love you, Papa, love you, Mama
O, Zion a the conqueror

Final conka-conka-kang
Conka-conka-kang
Conka-conka-kang
Conka-conka-kang
Conqueror

COME FORWARD BOB MARLEY

 

 

UNITED NATIONS PEACE MEDAL OF THE THIRD WORLD (June 15, 1978)
Senegalese Youth Ambassador to the U.N., Mohmmadu Johnny Seka

Come forward Bob Marley. The great Bob. The superstar Marley. I think, what we say is the express that surprise. He doesn’t believe he was coming to do that. We the Third World who believe in peace, we don’t have a arms. We don’t have nothing. But if the artist, the super star say it is time for peace and he was singing all a dis time that thing. What we come up to say is peace was, was made by MATASEE, is a Mandingo and you know I am Mandingo and if you made it by self, they don’t know what they are doing. But is in my language ‘JAMMA’. I think Bob can express you right away what that mean. ‘JAMMA’ ‘JAMMA’ is on my language peace and he say ‘JAMMA’ ‘JAMMA’. An in Kingston when he say ‘JAMMA’ mean peace. Then we have that same road going in Africa. Ok. An the second you know you journalists, I love you very much, you are who those who give us all the news of the Peace Medal. Maybe when the world see the young generation dreaming about peace. They will think it is a time then we get together and sing the peace, peace an love. An Bob on behalf again of 500 million Africans we want to show you. Ladies and gentlemen, I really want to know, when we gonna reveal Bob Marley. But I love to participate, when the King arrive home. Like every group I already have an opportunity to done there and that will be really lovely. This is a ‘JAMMA’ and the MASTER JAMMIN’ from Mandingo. Bob this express from your people, I can say my people, is our people. And you are in the Third World and April 22 in Jamaica, all the artists Jamaicans, you know unified singing and getting together. Because they think we can unify ourself. That’s good in _____. Ok now, here in Hilton..Park Avenue..America. We love just to say to you Bob, we love you in Africa. You know we never been in war, but what we can do is our fightings to get this United Nations, you know Medal of the Peace, to Bob. Then you are witnessing, I think a Don (Taylor) will be smiling, because the man ‘KAYA’ is a most wonderful thing. What we was needing in the front of 24,000 people, sharing and seeing you. That really what Africa need. Someone to express themself. You know what we buy the records of Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder. Twenty dollars and we tired. An we never have a chance to see him. That only why I propaganda to say, Bob in the front of the journalists do you see. My people that stay here and I put their last records of Bob Marley say. When he coming, an I say yah he’s gonna come, he’s gonna come because I’m  the _____ ambassador and I’m doing all a my best. An here is another brother, _____, they put your name. An they say Bob is on the way in Africa, an that is what we dream. God will bless you Bob. Let me put this on. On behalf of meet the press people, I love them they are making you a superstar.

BIG UP NEVILLE GARRICK

This portrait of Mr. Neville Garrick was taken at 56 Hope Road, Kingston, in 1978, and will feature prominently in the book, Portrait of a Legend and other Folks.
Mr Garrick was responsible for the design of the famous Bob Marley album cover, Catch a Fire, subsequent Bob Marley album covers and the stage design and lighting at Bob's concerts.
Mr. Garrick celebrates his Earthday this day.
Big Up Neville Garrick!

Neville Garrick, a graduate of the UCLA College of Fine Arts (and disciple of Angela Davis) who had returned to Jamaica in 1973 to be an art director for the Jamaican Daily News, but met Bob and became Tuff Gong Records' resident designer.

JAH NUH DEAD

Bob Journalist: Do you believe in the words of Jesus? You adhere pretty strictly to the Bible don’t you?

Marley: yah..but Jesus tell us him must..him comin’ forward right

Journalist: Comin forward?

Bob Marley: Yah…HIM come again..when HIM come he will be the KING OF KINGS..LORD OF LORDS..CONQUERING LION OF JUDAH..now we look to see Jesus

Journalist: An he hasn’t returned yet?

Bob Marley: When HIM come..yes HIM come of course..Haile Selassie is the Christ whom them speak of…because HIM come as KING OF KINGS..LORD OF LORDS..CONQUERING LION OF JUDAH..has gone through the Bible manifest the whole thing..so the Christian now when them look them say..No is not him..just like when them see Christ the first time..no is not him
Journalist: So you believe Haile Selassie is the Christ?

Bob Marley: Is the Christ

Journalist: Is the Christ?

Bob Marley: The Christ..an no other one before or after.

THE MAXFIELD PARK CHILDREN'S HOME

I grew up living opposite The Maxfield Park Children's Home in Kingston, Jamaica.
Three years ago they received a grant of approximately US $3.5 million from the Japanese Embassy to assist with the renovation of sections of their 90-year-old property.
The Maxfield Park Children's Home is the oldest co-ed childcare facility in Jamaica which serves as a permanent dwelling for many children who have been abandoned or otherwise made homeless.
I have therefore began to make contact with the relevant authorities with regard to a pledge to donate approximately 10% of sales from the book, Portrait of a Legend and other Folks, to this proud institution.
I intend to publish this book and I intend to keep this pledge.
Kindly watch my ass.

 

 

ONE AIM ONE PEOPLE ONE DESTINY ONE LOVE

With a dear friend, Mr. Colin Oliver Leslie. We are at The Bob Marley Museum, 56 Hope Road, Kingston.

THE GUN SHOT ROOM

On December 3rd, 1976, two days before "Smile Jamaica", a free ...concert organised by the then Jamaican Prime Minister Mr Michael Manley, Bob Marley, Nana Rita and Bob's manager, the late Mr Don Taylor, were wounded from gunshots by unknown gunmen inside 56 Hope Road, Kingston.
Mr Taylor and Nana Rita sustained serious injuries but later made full recoveries.
Bob received minor wounds in the chest and arm.
The shooting took place in what we now call, The Gun Shot Room.
I paid a visit last Friday and the chill is still there.
Bless.

POALAOF!!!!!

***.......with a dear friend, Mr Colin Oliver Leslie. We are at The Bob Marley Museum, 56 Hope Road, Kingston, last Friday.***

ZAP POW AND LINDSAY DONALD

Zap Pow were a famous Jamaican reggae band, whose members have included Mr. Beres Hammond, Mr. Jacob Miller and also Mr. Bunny Rugs. I was to take this portrait in 1979 of three members of the band backstage at the National Arena in Kingston shortly before the band were to split.

LINDSAY THROUGH THE YEARS

I have traversed the Sahara Desert. Five times Malaria has knocked I down and I survived. I was incarcerated for months because some thought I worked for the CIA. For two weeks, whilst Bob was in Europe, I slept in Bob Marley's bed at 56 Hope Road, Kingston. On his return, neither Bob nor I could figure out how or why. As a Survivor from Survival, a battle was lost a war still to be won. The paradox of it all is that we use our eyes to see, yet our eyes cannot see our eyes. Let the fun begin. We have a book, PORTRAIT OF A LEGEND AND OTHER FOLKS to publish. Time to kick ass. Peace you lot.

LINDSAY DONALD 'BRITISHER'

I was born in Kingston, Jamaica. In 1962 I emigrated to Harrow, England, to live with my mother. After leaving school in 1968, I got my first job working for Eastman Kodak where I developed a love for the art of photography.