by ERIN MacLEOD

Reggae music has long been inspired by Africa. "I was born and raised in the ghetto, with the blood of African roots," Johnny Clarke famously sang. As an African who has been inspired by the music of Jamaica, Alpha Blondy injects his own musical traditions, African experience, and many languages (he sings in French, English, Hebrew, Arabic, and Swahili - to name but a few) into his special brand of conscious, spiritual reggae. Blondy's 25-year commitment to the causes of African unity, social justice, peace and love would make his hero, Bob Marley, proud. Live and direct from his Ivory Coast homeland, Africa's reggae ambassador shared some thoughts about the music he's loved ever since he first heard Burning Spear.

Mirror: What do you think about the recent upsurge in reggae's popularity?

Alpha Blondy: I think that reggae is a music that is permanent. It will go down sometimes and then even when the fashion is getting away, reggae will always resurrect.

M: As someone who is from Africa and a Rastaman, how do see the relationship between Africa and reggae? Do you see your perspective as being different from that of other roots and culture artists like Luciano or Morgan Heritage?

AB: The difference between reggae made in Africa and reggae made in Jamaica is the small difference between the crocodile and the alligator. Reggae musicians are basically African, originally African. But no matter how long a piece of wood will stay in the water, it will never turn to be a crocodile. This means that though Jamaicans are called Jamaicans, deep inside they are still African and they are playing their African heritage and culture. And me as an African playing reggae music, it is like playing modern African music.

M: Are you still inspired by reggae from Jamaica?

AB: We have to keep on getting inspired by the golden age of reggae. The golden age has given us some good masterpieces. Some songs are eternal. It is good to look back and see if you can reactivate those old songs, to keep them in the new generation's mind, for them to discover those songs.

M: Your music is very political. Do you think that politics are essential to reggae?

AB: I think that in reggae music there is a type of social and spiritual dimension. You must talk about poverty, the attitude of our politicians in third world countries. If you don't want war all over the planet, you are bound to talk about politics.

M: You sing about politics in many different languages. How do you think this impacts your audiences?

AB: I don't think, I just do. My English is not perfect, but I studied it because it helped me to communicate, to put forth my vision of Africa, my vision of the world. To be able to speak many languages has allowed me to communicate more and touch as many people as I can. But sometimes when I do a concert in America, I'll see fans singing a Swahili song. It means that music is a universal language.

All ages shows with the Solar System at Metropolis on Tuesday, Oct. 19 and Wednesday, Oct. 20, 8:30 p.m., $40.41

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