KINGSTON, Jamaica — Ivan Bascoe is celebrated by reggae artists across Europe as a true lifesaver—the person who ensures they don’t face hunger or have to settle for unappetising cold sandwiches and burgers that kill the appetite and spirit.

Originally from Jamaica, Bascoe has spent the last 25 years living in Germany. He is a well-known chef on the live show reggae circuit, ensuring artistes and Jamaican visitors can enjoy a hot, delicious, traditional Jamaican meal, guaranteed to “beat the gas”.

Hailing originally from Exchange in Ocho Rios, he now lives in Essen. Even though he got married in the foreign country, he has not had any German-born kids.

“I leave too many kids in Jamaica, I couldn’t have anymore,” he said, jokingly.

Bascoe, who will be 66 in August of this year, is the father of six, all of whom are now adults.

A lifeguard by trade, he is known around the reggae community for being a great chef, and proprietor of Ivan’s Jamaican Cooking which caters for events across Europe, including the major reggae festivals.

Observer Online caught up with him while he was providing Jamaican food at the Junkyard Club in Dortmund, Germany on the night of a gig on the Roots and Culture tour featuring Lutan Fyah, Jah Mason and Zhayna. It is the dog days of winter, with temperatures hovering around 10 degrees.

“We have to do this for the culture and for the artistes. When I came to Germany, I realised that there was a need, especially among the artistes, for great Jamaican food, so I just started to do it,” he said.

It was great for him to find his own niche.

“Everybody Jamaican you meet say dem a artiste, but that is not my lane, so mi start use mi Jamaica style to provide food and it work, because the man dem tired, who come up from yard and tired of McDonald’s food,” he said.

He has catered for major festivals such as Reggae Summerjam, the Ruhr Reggae festival and other major reggae events crisscrossing the European continent.

Bascoe lives in Essen, which is 30 minutes away from Dortmund. He sometimes travels all across Europe as he follows the tour schedules of reggae artistes.

“I can provide the full fare, ackee and saltfish, fish, stew chicken….everything. Maybe I will travel all the way to Holland at your next tour stop…tell me what you need and mi get it for you…I have been doing this for years. Mi love to provide this necessary service,” he said.

He is a big supporter of the Borussia Dortmund football team. Dortmund is the second most decorated German football team. Domestically, they have eight league championships, five DFB-Pokals, and six DFL-Supercups. Internationally, they won the UEFA Champions League in 1997, the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1966, and the Intercontinental Cup in 1997.

“Even though the best team is usually Bayern Munich, I love Dortmund. I liked them from when I was in Jamaica and move with Dortmund still,” he said.

Bascoe recalled friends in Germany who invited him to the Fatherland so that he could see snow for the first time.

“They used to come for my birthday every year and they invited me to come to Germany. I wanted to see snow and feel it and then I overstayed my time and ran into a lady mi like, I got married to Birgitte. It didn’t last long but is my friend right now,” he said.

He returned to Jamaica a few times over the years. However, after his mother died, he did not return to Jamaica for 16 years.

“Last time I went back (to Jamaica) was the year before last, I love Jamaica but Germany is my home now,” he said.

He is now fluent in German. He attended a linguistics class for three months, and then picked up the language through daily use. He is happy to have carved out a decent life in Germany as a “hardcore yardie”.

“Nuff love to Marcia and Levi, the two kids from my ex-wife, my step kids, and Mariko, thanks for all the support, big up,” he said.

— Claude Mills