Spear gives back
Benevolence for schoolchildren was not a big thing when Burning Spear was a student at St Ann’s Bay Infant School in the 1950s. That lack of charity is something he never forgot.
Tomorrow, the reggae legend reaches out to his former school by funding a pre-Easter treat there. It is coordinated by Mytania “Zazan” Samuels, who conducts several charity events for the 77-year-old artiste.
“With the help of Zazan, I got involved even more in giving back because I listen to what he says. When I was a young man nobody give us anything, so a treat like dis can mek di kids smile an’ have a nice time,” said Burning Spear .
Founded by the Anglican Church in the 1890s, St Ann’s Bay Infant School moved to its current site in 1920.
Burning Spear, who lives in New York, has not been to Jamaica in five years but keeps in tune with developments in the country through family, friends, and social media.
He was born Winston Rodney, the second last of 14 children for Gerald Rodney, a farmer from St Catherine, and his wife Edna who was born in St Ann’s Bay.
Life in the coastal town was “a joy” for pre-teen Rodney and his siblings.
“I loved swimming, things like dat. I was involved in a youth club an’ remember having a lotta fun…used to enjoy miself,” he recalled.
St Ann’s Bay was also the hometown of Marcus Garvey, the pan-African hero who inspired Burning Spear’s greatest work — Marcus Garvey, his seminal album, was released in 1975.
Recently, Burning Spear’s management announced that the double Grammy winner will return to the stage after a decade-long absence. He is scheduled to perform at Rototom Sunsplash in Benicàssim, Spain, in August and on the Welcome to Jamrock cruise in December.