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Gonzo Report: Two days of solid rasta – back at the World Beat Center
Makeda Dread warns against buying weed at dispensary
I got a pair of black socks with the lion of Judah in the middle for $12 from Rose Reggae.
The Tribute to the Reggae Legends/Bob Day took place on February 21 and 22 at the World Beat Cultural Center in Balboa Park. It was formerly known as the Bob Marley Day Festival. The concerts used to be held on Presidents Day at the Sports Arena. When I attended the event in 2005 it was an all-day affair with bands playing non-stop from 1:00 to 11:00, and there was a revolving stage. We were all getting high in the long line outside while waiting to get in. We were in line for two hours.
By the time we got inside local favorite Don Carlos was finishing up his set. I did catch his mesmerizing version of “Zion Train”. It was a legend packed lineup with Barrington Levy, Israel Vibrations, Alpha Blondy, Jimmy Cliff and Steel Pulse. There were casualties from the plumage. Some attendees were hunched over passed out in their chairs.
The World Beat Center landmark is an abandoned water tower that sits on over an acre of land with gardens and trails.
The event has since changed its name, location and duration. This time the festival spread over two evenings as opposed to one haze-packed day and night. It’s now at the World Beat Center. An abandoned water tower has been converted into what it is today by the vision of Makeda Cheatom AKA Makeda Dread. It now sits on over an acre of land with gardens and trails. When I arrived the first evening I was immediately greeted by Lupe and Kuzonse at the entrance. Lupe said she liked the Bob Marley shirt I was wearing.
The first thing to catch my eye was the merchandise booth selling official festival tee shirts for $40, hoodies for $50 and XXXL for $57. There were other merchants selling Bob Marley and other Reggae memorabilia, two food booth options consisting of Ghanaian food and Oaxacan tamales, and a bar area in front of the building.
Makeda coming up on stage to sermonize about love, giving back to the community, eating good vegan food, and not buying our smoke at a dispensary.
I got a pair of black socks with red, gold & green stripes and the lion of Judah in the middle for $12 from Rose Reggae. Rose has a shop on Adams Avenue. Inside there was a café with coffee, pastries and other baked goods, a kitchen area serving Caribbean food, a couple of merchant booths, a dance floor, multi-cultural murals, flags of nations hanging from rafters and the main stage.
I headed to the bar area after scouting the inside and outside perimeters. Inside the bar area had DJs spinning records like the old days, round bar tables and two ladies serving up beer for $10, hard seltzer for $10, wine $5, and honey wine for $7. I was able to find a table after buying an Xteca Mexican Style Lager and pulled out my live resin vape. I took a big draw then heard a big thump. A woman who might have been in her early twenties collapsed and appeared to be convulsing. Her friends were in a panic and the event’s medical crew were prompt and attentive. She eventually came to her feet and gave a smile to her friends to let them know she was all right. It made me wonder if she had a weed seizure. That can happen after taking a hit, holding it in too long and then collapse into fish flopping.
Finished my beer and headed back inside to get a cup of coffee. It was $3. I gave the man at the register a $5 bill and told him to keep the change. He said all the tips go back to the center. Dancehall artist Ninjah P from the Virgin Islands, and Michael Palmer were followed by Makeda coming up on stage to sermonize about love, giving back to the community, eating good vegan food and not buying our smoke at a dispensary. She’s eighty-three years old and showed that she’s still spry when skanking and dancing all around the stage.
The night finished with Ranking Joe and his quick lyrical Dancehall style. The sun was still shining when I arrived for the second evening of the festival. That gave me a chance to see what was going on behind the structure. The first thing I encountered was Zekel a real Rasta man. His dreads covered in a red, gold and green wrap. When asked where he was from. “Kingston Jamaica Mon.” There were additional porta potties, merchant booths, a garden, and a wildlife habitat. The line for Ghanaian food was too long so I got a carne asada tamale with red sauce for $7. They did not skimp out on the meat. Grabbed my tamale, headed to the bar area and bought a Xteca Hoppy Lager.
The bar area was more crowded and livelier the second evening. It was more reminiscent of a house party with dancing, drinking, and smoking. Inside it was like church with the gospel being preached to us by Mara Sulu, Quinto Soul, Empress Akua, Little John, Junior Toots, Triston Palmer, Etana, Warrior King, Johnny Osbourne, and Sister Nancy.
Junior Toots is the son of Toots Hibbert of Toots & The Maytals. His performance of his father’s "Pressure Drop” and “54-46 Was My Number” would have made Papa Toots proud. I got the honor of smoking with Junior Toots after his performance, and he introduced me to his son. I was in the presence and got to smoke with generational reggae royalty.
Sister Nancy, the original queen of Dancehall, was the last act of the festival. She might be older and heavier at 63 years old. Her voice and energy didn’t get that memo. She was dancing, hopping, gyrating, and at times rubbing the microphone around her mouth. She closed out the show with “Bam Bam”. There were no issues with parking, rideshare pick up & drop off and people were positive. Jah Rastafari!
Here's something you might be interested in.
Gonzo Report: Two days of solid rasta – back at the World Beat Center
Makeda Dread warns against buying weed at dispensary
Gonzo Report: Two days of solid rasta – back at the World Beat Center
Makeda Dread warns against buying weed at dispensary
I got a pair of black socks with the lion of Judah in the middle for $12 from Rose Reggae.
The Tribute to the Reggae Legends/Bob Day took place on February 21 and 22 at the World Beat Cultural Center in Balboa Park. It was formerly known as the Bob Marley Day Festival. The concerts used to be held on Presidents Day at the Sports Arena. When I attended the event in 2005 it was an all-day affair with bands playing non-stop from 1:00 to 11:00, and there was a revolving stage. We were all getting high in the long line outside while waiting to get in. We were in line for two hours.
By the time we got inside local favorite Don Carlos was finishing up his set. I did catch his mesmerizing version of “Zion Train”. It was a legend packed lineup with Barrington Levy, Israel Vibrations, Alpha Blondy, Jimmy Cliff and Steel Pulse. There were casualties from the plumage. Some attendees were hunched over passed out in their chairs.
The World Beat Center landmark is an abandoned water tower that sits on over an acre of land with gardens and trails.
The event has since changed its name, location and duration. This time the festival spread over two evenings as opposed to one haze-packed day and night. It’s now at the World Beat Center. An abandoned water tower has been converted into what it is today by the vision of Makeda Cheatom AKA Makeda Dread. It now sits on over an acre of land with gardens and trails. When I arrived the first evening I was immediately greeted by Lupe and Kuzonse at the entrance. Lupe said she liked the Bob Marley shirt I was wearing.
The first thing to catch my eye was the merchandise booth selling official festival tee shirts for $40, hoodies for $50 and XXXL for $57. There were other merchants selling Bob Marley and other Reggae memorabilia, two food booth options consisting of Ghanaian food and Oaxacan tamales, and a bar area in front of the building.
Makeda coming up on stage to sermonize about love, giving back to the community, eating good vegan food, and not buying our smoke at a dispensary.
I got a pair of black socks with red, gold & green stripes and the lion of Judah in the middle for $12 from Rose Reggae. Rose has a shop on Adams Avenue. Inside there was a café with coffee, pastries and other baked goods, a kitchen area serving Caribbean food, a couple of merchant booths, a dance floor, multi-cultural murals, flags of nations hanging from rafters and the main stage.
I headed to the bar area after scouting the inside and outside perimeters. Inside the bar area had DJs spinning records like the old days, round bar tables and two ladies serving up beer for $10, hard seltzer for $10, wine $5, and honey wine for $7. I was able to find a table after buying an Xteca Mexican Style Lager and pulled out my live resin vape. I took a big draw then heard a big thump. A woman who might have been in her early twenties collapsed and appeared to be convulsing. Her friends were in a panic and the event’s medical crew were prompt and attentive. She eventually came to her feet and gave a smile to her friends to let them know she was all right. It made me wonder if she had a weed seizure. That can happen after taking a hit, holding it in too long and then collapse into fish flopping.
Finished my beer and headed back inside to get a cup of coffee. It was $3. I gave the man at the register a $5 bill and told him to keep the change. He said all the tips go back to the center. Dancehall artist Ninjah P from the Virgin Islands, and Michael Palmer were followed by Makeda coming up on stage to sermonize about love, giving back to the community, eating good vegan food and not buying our smoke at a dispensary. She’s eighty-three years old and showed that she’s still spry when skanking and dancing all around the stage.
The night finished with Ranking Joe and his quick lyrical Dancehall style. The sun was still shining when I arrived for the second evening of the festival. That gave me a chance to see what was going on behind the structure. The first thing I encountered was Zekel a real Rasta man. His dreads covered in a red, gold and green wrap. When asked where he was from. “Kingston Jamaica Mon.” There were additional porta potties, merchant booths, a garden, and a wildlife habitat. The line for Ghanaian food was too long so I got a carne asada tamale with red sauce for $7. They did not skimp out on the meat. Grabbed my tamale, headed to the bar area and bought a Xteca Hoppy Lager.
The bar area was more crowded and livelier the second evening. It was more reminiscent of a house party with dancing, drinking, and smoking. Inside it was like church with the gospel being preached to us by Mara Sulu, Quinto Soul, Empress Akua, Little John, Junior Toots, Triston Palmer, Etana, Warrior King, Johnny Osbourne, and Sister Nancy.
Junior Toots is the son of Toots Hibbert of Toots & The Maytals. His performance of his father’s "Pressure Drop” and “54-46 Was My Number” would have made Papa Toots proud. I got the honor of smoking with Junior Toots after his performance, and he introduced me to his son. I was in the presence and got to smoke with generational reggae royalty.
Sister Nancy, the original queen of Dancehall, was the last act of the festival. She might be older and heavier at 63 years old. Her voice and energy didn’t get that memo. She was dancing, hopping, gyrating, and at times rubbing the microphone around her mouth. She closed out the show with “Bam Bam”. There were no issues with parking, rideshare pick up & drop off and people were positive. Jah Rastafari!
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