Agent Z Debrief
Agent Z post operation debrief South Africa 2010 F. Y. E. O.
Not too long ago we completed a covert mission into south africa, well it was almost covert.
There was genuine surprise that we came into the country without fan fare or media hype. That's how real revolutionaries do it. haha
Me, Broro 1 and the Ninja, arrived in Joburg on the anniversary of the student uprising. Right on time (I'll leave it up to you to gather intel on the date).
It was cold, but the people were very warm so it didn't matter. We got picked up by our local contacts as well as the gentleman known only as Mr. D. A. The secret sponsor of our covert mission.
Gear checked and no security issue coming into port we headed to our first night in South Africa, a small town called Parys.
Did I say that first night was cold? Roughing it in the winter in South Africa ain't easy. Suddenly, at about 0200 local time I got a urgent message over the comms.
"Agent Z, come in, Agent Z come in. Rethink strategy, I repeat, rethink strategy, Broro 1 out".
At that point it was too late in the action to change plans. We had to hold our ground. I wasn't prepared for this sort of resistance. I had to sleep with my flashlight on under the covers with me that night just to get enough heat. When you have to survive you'll do anything.
Anyway we made it through our first South African winter night all fully dressed.
The next day we took the machinery and gears for a test run. Our main mode of transport for the mission were Ducati Multistrada motorcycles. These are the latest in covert motorcycle technology. Off road, on road and anything in between. Push button this, push button that etc. etc. They are nice. Especially mine, I named her EZTELLA.
Oh no my red phone is blinking, you know what that means. Listen! You will get to do a full review of the mission when the gentleman known only as Mr. D. A. releases the classified footage.
Until then I'll give you the bullet points.
Overall the mission was a success. Our main objectives were completed.
- Objective Zero. Covertly enter the L Z make presence known based only on the r. o. e. D O N E
- Objective One. Using the Multistradas, recon South Africa during the world's biggest event and gather intelligence. D O N E
- Objective Two. Infiltrate all sectors of the population using whatever means necessary. D O N E
- Objective Three Attend games featuring African Nations. Blend in with participants. D O N E
- Object Four Launch musical attack recruiting local resistance and sympathetic citizens to join forces with existing team. Use any means necessary. D O N E
- Objective Five Release payload in target area of Soweto. D O N E
- Objective Six Come home alive. D O N E
As you know by now some info is still classified and can only be disclosed on a need to know basis. What I can tell you is this.
We had a great time, met great people and saw the whole world in Africa competing but with such joy and peace it was almost as if there was something more going on. Something that transcended winning and losing, transcended the borders, I saw it with my own eyes.
Africa was being celebrated whether we win or lose, this was a celebration of Africa.
So long denied the world stage to show itself in the positive light. Finally Africa takes its rightful place as she begins her rise. Make no mistake about it these are the infant stages of what Africa will become in the not too distant future. And all the people of the world will be joyful when Africa once again shines her light.
Agent Z out.
... intell update intell update intell update ...
.... just in
Agent Z and team requested.
Africa mission is a rollover. Repeat. Africa mission is a rollover.
Be prepared for redeployment short notice.
Civilians request more said payload. Repeat. Civilians request more said payload. Do you copy?
This is Agent Z. I COPY.
Africa mission is a rollover, redeployment on short notice, said payload. NO PROBLEM!
Ziggy show in Soweto, South Africa
Ziggy wanted to share these posters about his show in Africa.
Click to see bigger versions
Ziggy goes Wild and Free!
From Ziggy: "My friends I want to announce the launch of the wild and free singles. It's hard not to make music and since I happen to be in the studio I thought why not make some songs in between albums.
So I decided to record a collection of singles which means one song at a time and call it the wild and free singles because they are just that, wild and free.
I'll put them out as they come you can't control these things you know. Please feel free to send your family and friends to the sites to get the songs as they come out or share them out yourself.
It's going to be a lot of fun doing these songs for you. Share and enjoy. Wild and free.
love ziggy."
To check out the first track, Africa Land, please click here!
Chepstowe Update
Agent Z reporting, here is the next batch of photos from chepstowe basic school in jamaica. we are happy to say the children have a new classroom now . our gratitude and thanks to everyone for helping us to complete this portion of the vision, that includes you. everything we do we do it together. so what more can i say.
love
oh and meet me in Johannesburg. see you.
agent Z
To see more images, please click here
Chepstowe Update
From Ziggy:
"hi all, it's me again.
i want to update you on the progress we are making at the school in jamaica. last time we spoke i told you about the next step.
well here it is in living color. these intel pics just in.
now remember, you are a participant in the good things we are doing. as i've mentioned before part proceeds from the sales of family time as well as all donations to u.r.g.e helps us to bring positive change. here we can see it.
this is the additional classroom the kids need being built by our jamaican crew. it's going to be sweet.
anyway this was just a short update to keep you in the loop. we're just giving thanks.
talk again soon.
agent Z"
To see all the pictures, please click here.
Pictures from Chepstowe Basic School
From Ziggy:"YEAAAAAAAAAAAH!
I am happy to share with you some pictures from Jamaica.
Remember a few months ago......or maybe it was a year.
Aahhhh it doesn't matter, we mentioned proceeds from the sale of Family Time were going to benefit a school in Jamaica.
Well, here is your money at work. This is Chepstowe Basic School, Port Antonio, Jamaica.
It's a small start, but it's just the beginning. There is my big sister Sharon, (she's in the yellow shirt and the red, gold and green cap) she's organizing the installation of the play sets you have helped us to donate to the kids at Chepstowe.
Doesn't it feel wonderful to help.
Look how green and luscious Port Antonio is. Jamaica is beautiful. Take me, take me to Jamaica now : )
The next thing we are working on is a new classroom which we will start early next year. I'll send you pics when we are done. Until then my friends, love.
oh! The ladies you see in the pictures are the teachers. The lady in pink is the principal. They are great people.
All right, just take good care of yourself. We'll talk later. Cool."
A thank you to the artists
Hi everyone its been a while.
I want to thank everyone for sending in their beautiful artwork for the coloring contest or should I say the "so called coloring contest".
After all, art cannot contest against art. The very meaning of art is you should not compare one person's art and deem it better or less than another person's art.
It's a personal expression that was not meant to be compared to or put up against anyone else's. Basically art was not meant to be a competitive sport. : )
We must learn to appreciate each piece of art on its own merits without putting our own likes and dislikes into it. We must learn to see certain things by becoming blind to certain things (does that make sense?).
Well here's an example. If people were blind to race, class etc. the world would be a better place. So who am I to judge someone's art.
This was my conclusion after looking at all the "entries" that were sent in for this "contest". Hey I just realized something it's a CON - TEST. hahaha a test of con. No conning here please. : )
Anyway, I have learned that all art has something that we can love whether it be the kid who totally just plastered the page with colors covering everything on the page, I laughed when I saw that. What an artist! Or the kid who took the time to color in the lines, you can see it took some concentration there.
Hey there are all kind of artists out there none is better than the other and so my final conclusion was everyone's a winner. I really loved each and every piece of art for its own individual style.
So thanks again, enjoy the gifts and we will talk soon.
It's family time.
love ziggy
To see the gallery of artwork, please click here
Pictures from the Studio
Ziggy sent along some pictures from the studio to share. Progress continues on his next album, which will be a children's record. Some contributors to the work include: Producer Don Was, Toots (sans The Maytals), Willie Nelson, and Mickey Raphael (Willie's harmonica player).
Some New, Some Conversation
The New:
A new album from Ziggy soon come! Here is the word from Ziggy about it:
"I decided to do a record focusing on children after finishing the Love Is My Religion tour. Now that I am finally doing it I realize I was always being led in this direction. Slowly but surely over the years the children's world became more pronounced in my world. From Sesame Street, Arthur, Nickelodeon, Shark Tale and playing pre-concert children's shows, it just kept knocking at my door. I finally realized what the Universe was telling me. It is time to make a children's record. There is a reason for this. What has been hidden from the wise and the prudent is revealed to the babe and the suckling. The message is for the children and Jah says it is time to make music for the children."
The Conversation:
Below are links to a couple articles mentioning Ziggy which he found interesting. He'd like to hear your opinions and thoughts about them.
- the first is in regards to the smoking ban at the Del Mar Concert series: Click here to read it.
- the other is from a Rolling Stone article about the differences between main party candidates in recent presidential race: Click here to read.
Please click on the "Comments" link below if you'd like to add your thoughts.
Ziggy Sees Red
a few months ago i attended a red cross charity event. i was seated with a few people, one of them being mr. bobby shriver. we were introduced and i was told he was involved in a campaign called product red that donates money to fight aids in africa. obviously, i was very interested as africa is a priority for us. right away i said to myself i must say something to him before i leave. i was interested in giving my support in whatever way i could to a cause such as this. not for any other reason but to be of service.
after outbidding the ladies from the tv show greys anatomy for a case of wine ( the money goes to charity ), taking pictures, listening to honorees speak, which was very good because all of them were local heroes like firemen, doctors and public servants, it was time to leave. on the way out i stopped at mr. shrivers'chair and told him i was very interested to be of service to this cause. he seemed happy to hear that. we exchanged numbers and said goodbye. about two weeks ago we met at his office in santa monica, california. i know i had heard and saw the red campaign before, the actor chris rock and a few more celebrities were promoting it at the time. however, i really didnt know the depths of it.
as we entered his office we saw some of the red products being dispalyed, t- shirts, sneakers, hallmark cards etc. cool, i thought. we then met mr. shriver and the red team. it was a relaxed atmosphere, just my kind of vibe, everyone was cool. after a little get to know eachother talk he started explaining the concept and idea of product red. how much they made, how it is distributed, the people that have been helped, etc. the more i heard and understood the more confident i felt that this product red thing was for real and not just another publicity stunt or ego trip.
my thoughts now went to how i could help to spread this. anything for africa. i asked some questions and we reasoned on for a little while. the red team was very open and asked if we had any ideas. already, no pretense , no protocol, no corporate hurdles, no contracts, no b.s. we had become a part of the team in a very organic way. i had no reservation in giving ideas and speaking freely and felt a real spirit of community, of people who are in it for the right reasons. nice.
one of the ideas we shared was to try and bring the awareness of product red to a grass root level. kind of like what i'm doing right now. people spreading the message through more than the established methods. getting the awareness of product red to the masses. i offered my concerts as one of the platforms that could be used, and told them the first thing i was going to do was put a link for product red on my website. every little helps.
everyone was happy to hear and see this enthusiasm to participate and we continued to exchange ideas for a few more minutes. the meeting ended well and we said goodbye. i felt really good about everything. we accomplished something positive. there was no exchange of money, no photo ops, no press. just the act of taking a step to help people in any way we can is something accomplished. making yourself available to give service to a cause such as this is spiritually uplifting and rewarding.
so check it out. their website is www.joinred.com
see how you feel. if you love it, do it. spread red.
one love, ziggy
Love
Lovelove love lovelovelove love love. Love lovelove love lovelovelove love love. Love love lovelove. Lovelove love lovelovelove love love love love . Lovelovelove love love, "Love, love love lovelovelove".
Love love lovelove. Love. Love love love. Love lovelove love love lovelove love. Love lovelove lovelove love. Lovelovelove love love love lovelovelove. Love love love.
Lovelove love lovelovelove. Love, love love lovelove love. Love love love lovelovelove. Love love, "Love". Love lovelove. Love love love lovelove love love lovelove.
Lovelovelove love love love love. Lovelove love love lovelovelove. Love love lovelove. Love, love lovelove love lovelovelove. Lovelove love lovelove. Love. Love lovelove love love love lovelovelove lovelove.
Love.
Message to the african delegates at the africa unite symposium in jamaica
It only takes a small spark to start the biggest fire and a small axe can cut down a big tree. What we endeavour to do does not take money and it does not need to be institutionalized.
All we need to do first is talk to eachother. Yes talk. There is a saying that talk is cheap, but when these talks eventually cause action, we will have achieved a great return on our investment. We are here to talk about african unity, to discuss it, to debate it, to get it on our minds, to put the conversation of african unity back on the peoples agenda, around the fires, the bars, the schools, the football games, the dinner table, the bedroom, and eventually the continent. When was the last time you thought about it, when was the last time you heard an african leader mention it, maybe they speak about it in their bedrooms.
I believe in african unity but I know not all who are on the continent believe or are willing. Many are called few are chosen. Some countries will some won't, for whatever reason they choose. Yet those who do not wish to be partners in this union, cannot stop it. After all there is a fire that no water can put out. I have many questions for africa, like why is this idea not on the forefront of our minds and our policies . Is there a force out there that does not want this idea to become a reality. Well maybe its my fault or yours, maybe we have become so focused on all the problems we face that we think of african unity as some fairytale, some long lost dream of our forefathers that offers no real solution to our problems, well we disagree. We believe the unity of africa is fundamental in solving the problems africa face.
We know, there are many issues, aids, poverty, wars, malaria, genocides, some god made, some man made, some we made, some they made and there has been many efforts to fix these problems, and for the worlds efforts we are very grateful.
However, the problems persist, and until we africans unite and work together as one continent with one people the band aids will not stop the bleeding. Obviously we hope that this idea would be developed and nurtured from the govermental side, but what are their incentives. Why would an african politician push for african unity, oh, maybe because its its good for africa and its people.
But is it good for the politicians?
We cannot depend on the system the way it is today to bring to us leaders who are selfless and brave enough to make african unity a real living agenda, and so we depend on ourselves, to instill it in our children, to instill it in ourselves so that when the time comes, when they are of age when our children become leaders they will not forget, and today, going forward we will not forget. In our thoughts, words and actions begin the process of reawakening the african consciousness. African unity will not happen in a day, but there will be a generation who will believe it did. One day they will awake and hear the celebrations in the streets. Like when Mandela was freed, and they will ask, "Whats happening"? And someone will tell them "africa unite".
-Ziggy Marley
