First there was Beenie Man, then there was Frankie Paul, followed by Shaggy and Bounty Killer. Now the Entertainment Desk continues its in-depth interview series with Anthony B, running in The Gleaner and The Star on alternate days this week.
HE IS the driving force behind songs like Fire Pon Rome, Nah Vote Again and Watch Weh Yu Eat. A fire-brand in his own way, Anthony B continues to turn the heat up on corruption. He speaks his mind on several issues including Selassie as God, PJ, Matalon, KFC, sex, marriage, music and hell. It is Sunday morning, about 10 o'clock and Anthony B is still in bed, an hour late for his interview. His brethren, deejay Dessert, apologises for his lateness. "The I come in from a late show, but him soon wake man." Fifteen, 20 minutes passed and things are just the same. Then, the clock strikes 12 noon and Anthony B, wearing his Rasta garb, including a turban, sits in his car porch in Greater Portmore, ready to take spill his guts to The Gleaner's Eugene Pitter.
EP: Do you still consider yourself a 'fire-man'?
Anthony B: (seemingly drowsy) Mi a fire-stick. When mi use to go a school mi hear 'bout fire-stick keep burning, so a dat Anthony B is doing. When certain things mount up and turn garbage, we grandmother would seh burn it. I burn fire on government leaders when they involve in corruption. (Pausing) But I have nothing against the police. Without police we can't live in peace. I observe police downtown. Dem nah laugh. Is a different thing dem (police) deal with uptown. So mi call dat discrimination against ghetto people. I have proven myself that I am not a criminal. If you are educated you could understand the law more. Mi live a Portmore and Matalon house is like a oven. The money he is charging is out of hand. So I will always lash out at Matalon. Mi also lash out a shotta man who seh dem a badman.
EP: And the Prime Minister is still on your 'fire' list?
Anthony B: Mi nuh only lash out pon PJ. Mi also lash out pon Seaga, on both parties if they not representing us. Check any constitution. There is a law to protect local community. But the law is only put in place lately so there is no leadership. If you put yourself to lead the people, you must do your job.
EP: Is KFC forgiven?
Anthony B: (relaxed, his voice sharpens) Kentucky still getting burn, for these people (who own Kentucky) don't try to spend back the money they gain in Jamaica. Kentucky buy their produce abroad. I don't eat Kentucky stuff, but you might find some people seh dem a Rasta and eat Kentucky foods. Music is the voice of the people and as an entertainer I am glad I am able to express and Selassie gives me that opportunity.
EP: Is Selassie your God?
Anthony B: (confident) Selassie is my God I see through the words of Ethiopia. Anyone who sitteth on the throne of David is the Almighty. Selassie is not dead. He liveth and reigns in the hearts of his people.
EP: So when you have problem you call on Selassie?
Anthony B: As a youth inna mi sufferation when my people throw mi out, when mi start grow mi locks, I was homeless, and I call on Selassie and Selassie help mi out through fasting and prayers.
EP: So, what do you think about people who serve God?
Anthony B: (glancing at the ceiling) The word (God) comes from Germany. I and I history is before Greek. I history a before words come on paper. The Bible never write in English, so people can tell you anything (meaning they have their own interpretation of the Bible).
EP: Do you believe in hell?
Anthony B: A man maketh his hell and a man maketh his heaven. The work you do is positive and that is heaven to man. I don't look at death. If you prepare to die, why work and achieve? Christ came to tell us to restore God's faith. So Christ is telling us to have faith that it can move mountain.
EP: What about your mother?
Anthony B: (a bit cautious) She still believes is Christ. She used to fight against my views. Now I can tell her that Selassie is my God. I can sit and reason with her. She can now reveal the history book of the Glory of the Kings. I just open her eyes to the truth. My love for her is always the same. Rasta teach me to be humble. I have an uncle that Ras. I wouldn't go to my family and put Rasta views to them.
EP: But you have tried to influence your friends in this Selassie doctrine?
Anthony B: I try to explain to them the concept of Rastafarian teaching. You cannot influence somebody if they do not want you to influence them.
EP: Do you shun so-called 'bald-heads'?
Anthony B: All my families are bald-head. Most of my brethren are bald head. We can reason. We can reason out problem. Knowledge is wisdom.
EP: Is your woman a rasta?
Anthony B: Jah seh your empress suppose to be a Rasta. I will even teach my children to be Rastafarian.
EP: Do you believe in having many wives?
Anthony B: Can't fight African tradition. A man is entitled to as many wives. I don't know if this would lead to problems (he pauses). I think these women would have to come from a culture where they accept a man having plenty wives. But I am not practising this (polygamy). I don't find a woman who would be willing to share me with a lot of women. I put the idea to women, but they do not agree.
EP: Would you be able to afford all these women and their children?
Anthony B: One has to be wealthy to do all this.
Continued tomorrow in The Star.
