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Ras Digital ~ Glenford Samuels

7/10/2015

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Glenford Samuels aka Ras Digital aka Digi

What does the world know of my idren Ras Digital?  The Rastaman who has been walking with a camera in his hand as far back as the 1980s recording hundreds of shows and events in Toronto, preserving the culture of an era.  He has spoken of footage of the band that I managed, IBADAN, as well as any or most acts that performed at the Bamboo over those years.  I don’t know the exact or the entire catalog of bands, artists or shows yet the names that come to mind are, The Sattalites and Messenjah for sure, Kidd Rasta and the Peacemakers, Jason Wilson and Tabruuk, Tatix, Tony Anthony, Chester Miller, Raffa Dean, Michael Garrick, Nana McLean, Hardcore Band, Steele, High Energy, Sensation Band, Ibo, Tanya Mullings, Donna Makeda, King Ujah are some of my guesses.  Digi has an intricate look at reggae history in Canada and selfish me wished I could sit and watch it all then submit for the world to see them.  To my mind, he is sitting on a relative reggae goldmine of Canadian footage dating back possibly twenty plus years!


Digi shoots for major events like the Irie Festival as well as Jambana as well as major artists from Jamaica like Sizzla, Coco Tea, and the final concert of Sugar Minott (which by the way I have seen personally) backed by a Toronto band with Mikey Lee on drums and Andy Lee on bass.  Seen footage of Exco Levi in a video that went viral!

My greatest question is, "when will we get to see this footage?" and I have now learned, whenever you wish a thing to happen, put it out to the universe.  I am doing that now.  For those who never made it to the legendary Bamboo, I can't recreate the feel that I felt, yet one can have a look at performances from within that time.

Digi has captured invaluable footage of this history!

There is no technology that he does not keep up with as it pertains to cameras, film editing, production or presentation.  Constantly learning new techniques, viewing tutorials the way some watch sitcoms on TV in their spare time.

What I have always discussed with anyone wishing to listen, is that Africans and Caribbean people must write and create their own events and histories.  It is the reason that I wrote my first novella, "Three Finger Jack ~  The Spirit of Jamaica"  because when I sought information about an individual back in the 1780's, the information for African / Jamaican culture was limited, as compared to European history where information on Columbus, Drake, Morgan are easily accessable even to the point where several movies and documentaries were made about these individuals.  Not so much about Jack whom I personally have an affiliation with.  So I wrote about him!  Mostly fiction infused with stories and real events I heard about then pieced together to create my vision of Jack.

Digi figured it out from time.  He has been recording since the 1980s, many events in the Canadian reggae scene.  He sometimes stands in an inconspicuous corner and points the camera on the stage and records a performance, a song, an entire set or the whole show.  One camera back in the day and today it can be as many as eight cameras at any given show, capturing pieces of Canadian reggae history that can only be discussed through conversation yet he has many of those memories on film which I would love the world to one day be able to watch.

A devout Ras Tafari, he exudes that energy in person as well as behind the camera.


Germawi Qedamawi, Haile Selassie 1st is his guide and this is His charge, Ras Digital / Glenford Samuels.

 
A couple of samples of Digi's work

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international reggae day ~ canada day

7/7/2015

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#internationalreggaeday #canadaday #torontoreggae #canadianreggaeworld #thisismykingston #thisismytoronto #thisismycanada

Reggae music!

Created in the God blessed "land of wood and water", Jamaica!

It has grown exponentially over the years to become an internationally celebrated event having now, its own day.

Creating CRW many moons ago, I was a disgruntled manager / fan not able to get the vibes of reggae music as consistently as I would have liked, as well as an attempt to bring the genre to the forefront where the artists had a place to expose / export their music to an appreciative buying audience, so I hosted events and did my best to promote this positive energy of reggae and Ras Tafari that I appreciloved. Back then I was basically the only reggae website in town.

A few years later TR busted onto the scene with their own style yet promoting the same positive energy. In a short time they have grown the listening and viewing reggae audience to the point where they are getting upwards of one million views monthly!

Jason and I speak often of the challenges and rewards of this genre and collaborate to promote artists, events, festivals and all things reggae.

We celebrate our first International / Canada / Reggae Day together by compiling this top 20 list.

TR & CRW collaborating our experiences in the Canadian reggae scene and or choices are based solely on the recognition of reggae contributions that we bring to Canadian reggae culture as we see it.  This will be our first annual input to International Reggae Day going forward.

Happy International Reggae Day / Canada Day to all fans here at home as well as worldwide!

1.       Special recognition to Chronixx who is a respected international reggae ambassador, living and performing in the vein of reggae freedom fighters like Marley, Tosh and Spear.

2.       Exco Levi from Toronto, a four time, consecutive Juno Award winner!

3.       Donna Makeda / ReggaeXclusive magazine as a champion of Canadian Reggae.

4.       Politician Councillor Josh Colle for naming Reggae Lane and inspiring a global interest in reggae Canada.

5.       Reggae Lane ~ Gets nominated because it is the first of its kind worldwide.

6.       Recognition to Messenjah Band as well as Fujahtive for making successful comebacks and sounding as good if not better than their earlier selves.

7.       Raspects to Tasman Jude for taking the Canadian reggae brand worldwide.

8.       Carrie Mullings for creating and maintaining the Canadian Reggae Charts weekly, inspiring reggae artists to a place to showcase their talent with music.

9.       Harbourfront and Roy Thompson Hall for their consistent contributions to reggae music internationally as well as locally.

10.   The Chronicles Dub Trio playing live dub music.

11.   Mike Tanner, city office getting involved with the Canadian reggae movement.

12.   African Star top selecta of any style of reggae music and a talisman to other successes in the genre.

13.   Reggaemania.com / Ron Nelson for supporting and promoting dancehall in Toronto for decades.

14.   Toronto Deejays / Tygon Cowan for a visual look behind the dancehall scene.

15.   Ras Digital videography, film and documentation of reggae performances.

16.   Big raspect to the Redemption crew for all that they do.

17.   Raspect to Jones and Jones, Phil Vassell (Irie Festival), Jamaica Day, Rastafest, Calgary Reggae Fest, Montreal Reggae Fest, Edmonton Reggae Fest, Victoria Reggae Fest, Guelph Reggae, Nanaimo Reggae crew, Xixgon Crew, African Star and now Saskatoon for successfully promoting international reggae music festivals annually.

18.   Big raspect to Thymeless Reggae Bar for prompting reggae pretty much every day of the week.

19.   Special mention to Sankofa on Eglinton west.

20.   Cadillac Lounge, Lee’s Palace, Belleeny’s, Tranzac get the nod for venues supporting live reggae music.

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