Ras Fawzi Makonnen is imprisoned by a burning ambition, a passion that
consumes him. The fire burns in three tongues demanding service in
three areas – first, get every kid, kayayo off the street; second,
repatriation is a must; and third, love is the answer.
The farmer-turned-musician has come to terms with his calling; and,
again, he’s squeezing all three assignments in his forthcoming album –
‘Love Revolution’.
“‘Love revolution’ because the world needs love and putting up this
album will help to revolutionize love and make love more open and
acceptable. Love is caring, sharing and love heals everything. We
might have different religious backgrounds, but with love, we are
one,” Fawzi explains.
And he should know.
Ras Fawzi Makonnen, the man who gave reggae fans his debut ‘Rasta
Revolution’, was born Fawzi Mohammed in Kumasi to Moslem parents;
after their bitter divorce, he accompanied his mother to Accra where
he finished school and discovered Rastafari to her chagrin.
“I had just finished Junior High. She stopped financing my education
because I wasn’t a Moslem anymore,” Fawzi says of his mother.
And then reggae music found him. Even as he soaked in the early roots
wailing from the Caribbean, so did he satisfy his soul with the
familiar sounds of Fela, Kojo Antwi, Salif Keita, Pat Thomas, and
Amakye Dede.
As would be expected out of those circumstances, he dropped out of
school, formed bands, joined bands, dreamed big dreams, rehearsed,
performed on the local and some neighbouring circuits, and
proselytized his Rastafari faith.
And, as would be expected, the bands split, the group recordings got
canned, and reality sank in. Fawzi went solo.
Fortunately, he has a voice (probably from his Mauritanian father’s
Sahelian genes).
With the active support and participation of French musician Billie
Richardson, his debut ‘Rasta Revolution’ hit the stands with modest
impact. His fan base though continues to grow exponentially, what with
social media and all.
Influential on ‘Rasta Revolution’ are a couple of tracks that
exemplify what Fawzi stands for. The first is ‘African Youth Man’, a
song about the youth of Africa and what is required of them.
“My passion is to see all street children off the street, most
especially the kayaye. With myself and like-minded people, we will
play shows to support street children; move them from the streets to
the classroom.
“Seriously, there should be a program that brings professionals
together like masons, carpenters, painters et ce tera; they can train
these street boys. That will help the nation to save a lot of the
money we use in importing goods. A group of carpenters can work on the
chairs for parliament rather than importing them from China…we have
talented and gifted able-bodied men and women here.
“I am looking forward to meeting determined and selfless people to
work with, but while waiting, I work with kids with special needs at
Multi Kids Academy in East Legon as a trainer and a music therapist. I
love doing that,” he enthused.
The second track is ‘Repatriation is a must’, a reiteration of a
centuries-old cry.
“Our brothers and sisters must come back home, and together, we will
build the new Zion. They have skills, we have resources. This is the
time. Repatriation is a must,” he chanted.
Wherever this African youth man has performed, be it to large crowds
at Panafest, Bless The Mic, or Fete de la Musique, or to intimate fans
at the beach, his message remains constant: love.
“I am serious about this. With love, everything is possible. That’s
why I’m calling my next album ‘Love Revolution’, because love is what
the world needs. We need to care more, share more and you will be
amazed at the healing. After all, are we not one?” asks Fawzi.
Ras Fawzi Makonnen is currently working on reconstituting his first
band Wailers of Africa. He believes the time is right.
“Ghana music is getting somewhere; it went real bad and off track when
they tried to imitate their Nigeria counterparts, but I must say they
are fully back on track now, and they are doing well.
“The reggae scene in Ghana is growing too, but kind of rough. It’s
like everything – it’s always rough at the beginning, but it will get
better. Reggae is more of a feel that puts rhythms together and
catches the attention of the listener. Like gospel musicians using
reggae now to me is ire because it’s helping to grow the reggae vibe,”
Fawzi said.
His major challenge in putting the Wailers back together is finding
dedicated musicians.
“You need a musician who is reliable and professional and puts music
first. It is getting tougher and tougher to find people who are not
talking about money first,” he explained.
Ras Fawzi Makonnen’s ‘Love Revolution’, another Billie Richardson
collaboration, should be on the market by year’s end.
Billie Richardson