Andre Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

The young and the old got involved in the nyabinghi at Culture Yard, Trench Town, on Tuesday. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Trench Town was quite busy on Tuesday, February 6, Bob Marley's 'earthday'.

At one corner there was a group of Christians in the street giving praise to the Lord and, in another, a pumping secular sound system clashing with the church. However, around a fire across the street from the popular "government yaad in Trench Town" that Bob Marley sang about was a smaller group of Rastafarians chanting, beating drums and, of course, burning weed. Sounds like nyabinghi.

A quorum

The number was not as huge as would have been expected, but the approximately 15 participants proved to be a quorum. When hours had passed and the moments of inactivity seemed unbearable to one of the older female sistren, she took to task and began beating the everlasting bass drum.

Shortly after that action got a few responses, as juveniles and adults alike took their position behind the other drums. Soon the leading chanter arrived with an exclamation.

"Bun di wicked inna di fyah!" she shouted

"A come you come fi cuss or chant?" was the response of another figure resembling grandpa Moses.

He was, of course, ready to begin, as he was seen earlier pulling on his chillum pipe and tuning up his drum. The leading chanter proved to be somewhat cantankerous and was most offended by another woman who was not in the right attire.

"Yuh haffi get up from deh suh. Wi nuh deal wid pants inna binghi," said she.

"Mi pants shouldn't matter, mi jus waah si wha gwan," she responded

She, however, got up willingly. The seat was immediately occupied by the chanter. Go figure. The children from the community, obviously fascinated by the drums, took turns beating the drum. Madam chanter was not having that, though, and warned that the drums are not "playthings".

With that aside though, the inner rhythm and the African roots that make the music magical was present and it was easy to get in the mood. So what if they sang the same tune for the over two hours? They were singing unto Haile Selasse, their deity.

No task seemed too big or too small for anyone. When it was time to play the drum, it was anyone's job; so it was also with keeping the fire going.

After all, the cause was similar.