Right up front, Taj Weekes, the St. Lucia born Reggae master and social advocate makes it clear: Rasta love is not about homophobia and herb is not about smoking marijuana.
“For true Rastafarians, One Love is much more than a song. It’s a creed, one which governs our lives and commands us to do better. And for me it is the way I choose to live this life.”
As an advocate for the LGBT community, as well as one committed to protecting the rights and uplifting the circumstances of people everywhere, Weekes exhibits a social passion and commitment that rivals his love of music: He has formed his own children’s charity, They Often Cry Outreach (TOCO), as a United States based not-for-profit entity, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of Caribbean children through sports, health and enrichment programs. As artist and educator, Weekes hopes to raise awareness of the often desperate economic conditions experienced by children in that part of the world.
“People see travel brochures of beautiful beaches and smiling children, and while that does exist it’s not the whole picture” he tells me. “There is a lot of suffering down there.” Last November he was named as a UNICEF Champion for Children to campaign for the rights of children and raise awareness of a wide range of issues such as access to health care, education, equal protection against physical and sexual violence (sadly, the Caribbean remains a hub of the international sex trade). As such he is a regular visitor to area schools, promoting his message of love and acceptance.
“I speak about how reggae means more than music, but I speak even more about the concept of love. I am my brother’s keeper. It’s my responsibility; it is everyone’s responsibility, to love others as you love yourself, to think not just as an individual but as a member of our collective society.”
Yet make no mistake. For all his charitable works and advocacy Weekes is first and foremost a musician. He grew up in a musical family — common for his part of the Caribbean — and those traditions have shaped his life. As a youngster he and his three older brothers would line up at night in their St. Lucia home, singing to their parents the ‘70s music that was on the radio.
“We’d have a good laugh and my dad would sing to us. But at that time I didn’t yet realize this was what I was going to do with my life.” That came later, after his brothers became Rastafarians and Weekes followed in their footsteps, learning about Rasta philosophy, much of which he feels is grossly misunderstood. “There was a reverence to it, this focus on love. All I saw and heard was love with them, even when they were being brutalized by the government and the people. They taught me about the “I and I: That of the spirit and of the body.” It’s the idea that informed his life ever since. For Weekes, that means spreading the message of love in his music.
“In the last 10 years a new breed of reggae has come along, one that’s moved away from the ideals of non-judgmental love. They deride people who love a different gender or person. We’ve been preaching One Love forever, yet there are still too many people pointing fingers. That’s NOT how it should be. One love welcomes and unites, it doesn’t dictate or divide. I love everyone, but for too long I was silent about it. Everyone’s welcome at my table. Who am I to define love? We don’t need to be good for God’s sake; we need to be good for goodness’ sake.”
So, if love and reggae are twin pillars for Weekes, the third — as one might expect — is herb; but not just marijuana, which is so often associated with the life of Rasta. “We’ve gone past that,” Weekes insists.
“That’s just a sensational story, one to grab headlines. When I grew up with them, the Rastas used fresh herbs in everything, in tea, in meals… all kinds of herbs. Hemp, and parsley and sage, thyme… everything that will make you better. I work with a hemp business, Good Seed Hemp. We’re doing something right for the planet — hemp used to be a huge crop.
“Now some people (mostly politicians) think it’s bad, but it’s not. It has so many uses, as paper, clothing, and even building material. And with the hemp movement, we are finding sustainable ways to make things that do not destroy the land or our bodies.”
Back again to the music, Weekes will be performing material from his upcoming album Love Herb Reggae, a mix of self penned material that reflects the diversity of his companions. With his band members, dubbed Adowa, coming from all over the Caribbean, from Jamaica to Dominica and Barbados to St. Lucia; it’s a pan-Caribbean sound. “All of us grew up listening to our own native music and we bring those experiences to the mix. I see myself as a singer-songwriter but I understand that my subject matter — that gospel of love and living in harmony — isn’t typical of reggae these days.”
The conscious lyrics he writes are a reminder of the message reggae used to contain, even if his lush sound is completely Weekes’s own. “When I started out I just wanted to put a poem over a riddim. Now I’ve found my voice. To me, Reggae is a verb. Whatever comes from it, I want to be true to the art form I’ve chosen.”
If You Go: Taj Weekes and Adowa, Thursday, October 2, doors open at 8 p.m., show starts at 9 p.m. $12 advance/$15 day of. All ages show, standing room only. The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville. Attendees are encouraged to get up and groove! Call (828) 232-5800 or visit www.thegreyeagle.com.