Sad news from Jamaica!

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in the groove:with Fred Zindi News recently coming out of Jamaica is not very good. Three weeks ago a message coming from Niambe McIntosh, Peter Tosh’s daughter, announced the death of her brother, Jawara McIntosh.

in the groove:with Fred Zindi

News recently coming out of Jamaica is not very good. Three weeks ago a message coming from Niambe McIntosh, Peter Tosh’s daughter, announced the death of her brother, Jawara McIntosh.

In announcing his death, she wrote:

“Jawara, you are a true soldier and we are blessed to have you as a son, a brother, a father, and a friend. Please hug and kiss our ancestors for the family.

Your legacy lives on through your children, Jahzarah, Jeremaiah, Nazare and Azariah.

“We are also so grateful for all of the Tosh children in Boston. Jawara’s children and nieces truly used all the strength to care for Tosh Daily. Their patience and young wisdom has been remarkable.

“And many thanks to all the family, friends and fans that kept us in your prayers and contributed in your own special way. Much Love.

“We are all a much stronger and closer community.

“Jah guide” Before that we had also received the news that Jean Watt, Bunny Wailer’s 70-year-old wife had gone missing since May 23 this year. Maxine Stowe, Bunny Wailer’s manager who I was in touch with last week confirmed that she is still missing and a $1m reward is on offer to whoever finds her.

As if that is not enough, to make matters worse, the reggae legend, Bunny Wailer himself was hospitalised. Speculation is rife that this could have been triggered by the fact that, his wife Jean Watt is still missing. Bunny Wailer has been hospitalised following complications due to a stroke which took place two years ago. According to The Jamaican Gleaner, the 73-year-old was admitted to a Kingston facility on July 21, suffering from the complications related to a stroke. Rumours had been spreading like wildfire in Kingston and the rest of Jamaica that Jah B (Bunny Wailer) had died. Stowe had to correct this through The Jamaican Gleaner.

Bunny Wailer is considered one of the stalwarts of reggae and one of the artistes who exposed the world to Jamaican music. Bunny Wailer, whose real name is Neville O’Riley Livingston, was an original member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. He is also a three-time Grammy award winner. Bunny, also known as Bunny Livingston and affectionately as Jah B, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association.

In 2018, he was taken to Cuba for treatment and continued his rehabilitation in Jamaica. The stroke has affected the right side of his body. His son Asadenaki revealed via social media that the family has hired a private investigator who has successfully checked all hospitals, old age homes, police stations, and morgues.

I got in touch with Bunny Wailer’s manager this week and below is her narrative which I quote verbatim:

“Bunny Wailer — The ‘Surviving’ Wailer Recovering.”

“The Hon Bunny Wailer has been hospitalised recently for issues and complications related to his having a stroke in October 2018. He is stabilised and looking to begin intensive rehabilitation shortly.

“He continues to be affected by the ambiguous loss of his life partner Jean Watt as the desperate search for her continues. The Livingston and Watt and extended families along with the authorities and Private Investigator continue to promote, respond to and investigate all reported sightings along with the potential of her being held by either strangers or family members.

“Prayers for recovery and strength for the families are in order as also the prayerful acknowledgment of other families undergoing these lifesize challenges of missing loved ones.

“The Hon Bunny Wailer has battered down and overcome many sentences in his personal and creative life, supported by his unconquerable faith as being now an esteemed Nyahbinghi Rastafari Elder and Order Of Merit Reggae Icon that has earned him the auspicious title of ‘Survivor’. With the majority of his peers of the foundation of the Reggae Music industry having already transitioned, we share, hope and express that his unique spiritual, creative and personal contribution to humanity stands predominant in these choppy waters related to aging and a world beset by unique health and environmental challenges.

“His living legacy continues to grow and advance as he continues to live his fellow Wailers Peter Tosh I Am The Toughest and Bob Marley’s Redemption messages.

He is also dealing with the Tosh family tragically losing their son and his nephew Jawara McIntosh recently, as also his Nyahbinghi Elder bonafide brethren Binghi Irie Lion suffering his complications of a stroke and unfortunate desecration of his beard — the Rastaman’s precepts.

“The family is now pulling together in this tough time with the main focus of aiding the full-some recovery of “The Blackheart Man”.

“Prayers for recovery and strength for the families are in order as also the prayerful acknowledgment of other families undergoing these lifesize challenges of missing loved ones.

“With the majority of his peers of the foundation of the Reggae Music industry having already transitioned, we share, hope and express that his unique spiritual, creative and personal contribution to humanity stands predominant in these choppy waters related to aging and a world beset by unique health and environmental challenges.”

After Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer became the most popular Jamaican singer in Zimbabwe. His popular hits such as Dance Rock, Boderation, Cool Runnings and Ballroom Floor were played on a daily basis by all the radio stations, especially in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Anthony Hagelthorn, the chief executive of Zimbabwe Music Corporation asked me on several occasions why Zimbabwean promoters could not bring Bunny Wailer to perform here. His interest of course, was to boost record sales as he was responsible for sales of Bunny Wailers’ albums in Zimbabwe.

Many Zimbabwean promoters were eager to bring Bunny Wailer to Zimbabwe as they felt that he would be a big cash cow even if he staged just one concert which many thought would even attract reggae fans from neighbouring countries such as South Africa, Zambia and Malawi.

In 1997, attempts were made by Nigel Munyati to make Bunny Wailer stage a performance in Zimbabwe. Posters and publicity were everywhere. The giant National Sports Stadium in Harare had been booked to accommodate more tha 60 000 Bunny Wailer fans and it seemed as though everything had been set for this colossal moment. I expressed my doubts about his coming as I told Nigel about the man’s fear of flying in what he termed “the iron bird”. Nigel was confident he would come as he had done everything in his power to make sure that he would be in Zimbabwe. He even argued that Bunny Wailer had recently appeared for a performance in South Africa and if he can do that why would he not do the same for Zimbabwe?

Wilf Walker, a London-based promoter and a friend of mine, had made several attempts to get Bunny Wailer to perform in the United Kingdom. He would sign the contracts with Bunny Wailer through his management, Solomonic Records, which was based in Seven Sisters Road in London but after the publicity had been done, the man never showed up.

When Nigel had even paid a deposit for the concert in Zimbabwe, Bunny did not come. Instead a show by Freddie Mcgregor with two members of Bob Marley’s I-Three, Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths ensued. This did not go down well with the public who had already been hyped up to see Bunny Wailer. As a result, the concert which was held at the Harare International Conference Centre did not attract as many people.

We in Zimbabwe pray for the long life of this living reggae legend. We hope that he will soon recover and trust that soon he will be reunited with his wife, Sister Jean.

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