Dear friends,
I am writting to you from Belgrade, Serbia/ Yugoslavia/. Because
of the kindness of Papa Pilgrim I have become, as a member of
Reggae Power Association, member of RAW.
Following suggestions of some bredrins, I 've decided to write
you, in case you didnt read my letter to RAW.
I am a graduate student of history, writing my graduate thesis,
and roots enthusiasist who is trying to promote everything that
has anything to do with reggae and african culture in this country.
Knowing the recent history, and present times, of Yugoslavia/Serbia,
you can guess how "easy" that is.....Regardless the
situation, couple of my associates and me have decided to put
our enthusiashm in good use, and to promote reggae and african
music in general everywhere possible. We are organizing Bob Marley
birthdays and 11 of may-Marley-day, Peter Tosh days, days of African
culture in association with some embassies and art galleries,
with films about Jamaica, Africa, African culture and reggae (
Sunsplashes, concerts of Burning Spear, Marley, Lacky Dube and
so on and so forth); unfortunately, we don't have enough material
( films, tapes, now even CD's) to broadcast, because of the overwhelming
poverty and rare travels here. Still, and this is a strange phenomenon,
reggae and Africa are enjoying tremendous popularity here, and
our evenings ( DJ happenings, concerts and more cultural events)
are visited beyond wildest expectation; in order to organize,
we have formed "Reggae Power"cooperative, group for
the association in relation with the afirmation of reggae &
afro music and culture. We are organizing DJ events, promotions,
volontier radio-shows ( two in Yugoslavia, one is mine and other
of a friend of mine..) concerts and cultural events ( for instance:
tommorow we are organizing a broadcast of a film about Zimbabwe
and on wensday we are organizing a big party in largest club in
Belgrade, rootsman party called "Reggae Power" ( with
Skankin Professors DJ team, my close friend and myself-:). Owners
of the clubs are taking all the profits, of course-:(( It is sad
reality of my country.
Our latest acchievement was creation of the first reggae web site
on Balkans ( check the link below). Web site is made , graphicaly,
from "borrowed" motifes, nothing new and original, but
our intention was to introduce reggae culture to Yugoslavs. And
we think that we are succedding in this. Web site is still under
*construction* although not visibly, but it already has some shape
and provides solid informations about reggae culture and reggae
in Yugoslavia.
We are in the process of organizing first reggae cofee shop &
gallery "Africa"- if we find enough material to organize
it with.
Why I am writting to you?
I have one kind request, and faith that you are going to understand
them and help us as much as you can:
If there is a way for you to help us here, with more materials-
CD's new releases in particular- because we are financing all
this by ourselfs, because of our love towards reggae. But we cannot
afford, because of the situation here, more CD's and we dont have
enough video material to broadcast. And without all this our love
for reggae and fight to promote it among this nationalist, racist,
selfobserved social culture, is fruitless.
Thank you for your time. I hope that you will find my requests
interesting and I hope that you will answer soon.
With best regards, one love,
Andrej "Professor" Grubacic RAW # 1505
Gospodar Jevremova 46
11 000 Belgrade
Serbia/ Yugoslavia
web site on:
http://www.welcome.to/reggae_power/ <http://www.welcome.to/reggae_power/>
alternative web address: reggaepower@africamail.com <mailto:reggaepower@africamail.com>