Glory be unto the Father, Son and Holy One
of Creatjon, His own divine majesty
Emperor Haile Selassie I Jah Rastafar I.
Since his emergence in late 1996 as one of Jamaica’s
most promising dancehall Deejays, Miguel Collins’
(aka SIZZLA) defiant lyrics and unapologetic attitude
have probably made him Reggae’s most controversial
artist since Peter Tosh.
This SIZZLA has certainly established himsell as the most
tiery, articulate, spokesman of his generation.
Songs like ,,Black Woman & Child” the title track from
this album, ,,Babylon A Use Dem Brain” and ,,Give Them
The Ride”, all speak of what is happening not only to
today’s youths, but their poor, suffering parents as well.
In these songs, Sizzla paints a picture of a society
which seeks to brainwash its members into thinking
that it is the will of God that some people should drink
milk and honey, while others beg the waste. He obviously
has no confidence that society will redress so many
years of injustice and, therefore, ,,Babylon” is doomed for
destruction for ever more. Deliverance comes via
knowledge, not only of the grave holocaust inflicted
upon the majority of the people for benefit of the few,
butthrough finding a solution.
SIZZLA’s solution comes via knowing the malestic trinity
of black prophets like Marcus Garvey and Prince
Emmanuel, who preached of the glory of black Africa, and
accepting the truth of the first Emperor Haile Selassie
of Ethiopia, King of Kings the Conquering Lion.
He is convinced that the only hope for suffering black
masses is repatriation to Ethiopia: ,,,We don’t want
nothing from Babylon, only repatriation to Africa. But,
in the meantime, we have to fight for our rights. Every
day more youth get dead. Who cause this? I and I no
consider mysell Jamaican. I and I a Ethiopian,” he
proclaimed in an Interview with the Jamaican
newspaper, The Star. The system, he says: ,,Is a system
set up by Heads of Govemment, that’s why a nuff chant
me ave fi chant so dat di yout’ dem can learn di truth”
he added.
And Sizzla has been chanting. He has probably more
records than any other Jamaican deejay out at the
moment and, especially in Jamaica, they sell like hot
bread, as people consider the reality of his statements in
the light of daily experiences.
Bobby Digital has put together probably the most explicit
interpretation of Sizzla’s music on this album. Like
Marley and Tosh before hirn, he demands attention and
he is certainly getting it from the Jamaican audience.
Now one can judge his relevance based on this album,
because Sizzla’s message is not parochially Jamaican.
lt is important to young people who suffered deprivation
and poor people who suffer hunger and homelessness
everywhere today
Balford Henry (Sleevenotes from Sizzla – “Black Woman and Child”) P’97
