" ... Rastafari livity means to tolerate and to live side by side with thos… Read Full Bio ↴" ... Rastafari livity means to tolerate and to live side by side with those of other faiths no matter which race, no matter which class. The purpose of Haile Selassie is to see that we become one in unity and love ... and that is my purpose." Lutan Fyah

Much, much more than a deejay, much more than a singer and more than a chanter too Lutan Fyah also plays guitar, keyboards and the kette drum. He holds strong beliefs in originality at all times and so he is a songwriter too and, as the New Millennium has progressed, he has developed his very own idiosyncratic and unique vocal styling. He embraced the Rastafarian religion at the age of sixteen but his songs are not always strictly Rasta. As a "living man with work to do" he ranges over all subjects and everything and anything can inspire him to write, to play, to chant, to sing and to deejay. Preaching to the converted can prove to be a fairly easy task but to take the same message all around the world is a totally different ball game.

Born Anthony Martin in Thompson Pen, Spanish Town in the parish of St. Catherine, Jamaica his formative years were spent in an environment where music was omnipresent. His grandfather ran a Sound System and artists such as Lt. Stitchie, Papa San and Lady G would gather in the family's yard to practise and perfect their skills on the microphone.

"I grew up around a Sound System. Music flows through my bones ..." Lutan Fyah

Music proved to be an incredible influence on young Anthony but sport, and football in particular, proved to be another and he started playing as a midfielder, a position where he excelled, in teams in his local community. He graduated to his school team, St. Andrew Technical High School, and eventually made the grade as a professional in Jamaican Premier League clubs De la Vega and Constant Spring; but the call of music proved too strong to resist and in 1999 he hung up his football boots and took the first steps towards a musical career.

Like so many others before and after Anthony Martin trod that same dispiriting round of Kingston's studios and record producers where he was met with indifference and at times ignorance. However there was a different reception at Mark Myrie's Aksum Studios where the young chanter's promise was immediately recognised and he passed his audition with flying colours. The man now known as Lutan Fyah spent what he terms his 'internship' at Gargamel where he recorded over sixteen songs for Buju Banton while also freelancing for other producers. His debut release was actually for the Crazy Hate label and 'Ambassador' signalled the arrival of a significant new talent in Kingston's musical maelstrom.

The resurgence of the Rastafarian influence and the Bobo Dread phenomenon in reggae music was an indicator of serious times in Jamaica as a new generation of singers and deejays came to the conclusion that the only credible solution to the current malaise was to "love the word of God and thy neighbour as thyself". Others, who shall remain nameless, were not slow to realise that this presented a heaven sent opportunity to jump aboard the bandwagon for a handy ride on the fast track to fame and money. Many futile attempts were made to hitch a ride to stardom and the words of God were readily mouthed by tongues that had previously been wrapped around the more worldly concerns of the dance hall. But artists such as Lutan Fyah were there for the long run for "the race is not to the swift" and his music was at all times driven by his deep beliefs. His devotion to the Rastafarian religion has meant that he has stayed the course while so many pretenders have fallen by the wayside.

Africa
Lutan Fyah Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What a big question for you and me
When will cfrica unite
Children scattered abroad over land and sea
When will cfrica unite
I shout aloud
and cry from a broken voice

They keep on attacking the door

Me see all sort of conflict
mashing we up
When peace is the answer
they show no love
but together we stand
with all of the above

Some cheap, some cheeky
never get enough
jealousy exposure
getting us down
like one to another
we have to calm down
tolerate let love surround

Big big question for you and me
When will cfrica unite
Children scattered abroad
over land and see
When will cfrica unite

Yeah we need one continent
One flow
One kind of currency
made from gold
One chain link
east, west, north and south
interway rail system
from here to Cairo

cfrica nah need not a head
nah a loan
Free up every border
a no tribal zone
and make sure you tell WHO
black man don't need vaccine
oh no

Big big question for you and me
When will cfrica unite
Children scattered abroad
over land and see
When will cfrica unite

Big big question for you and me
When will cfrica unite
Children scattered abroad
over land and see
When will cfrica unite
I shout aloud
and cry from a broken voice

They keep on attacking the door
Me see all sort of conflict
mashing we up
When peace is the answer
they show no love
but together we stand
with all of the above

Some cheap, some cheeky
never get enough
jealousy exposure
getting us down
like one to another
we have to calm down
tolerate let love surround

Big big question for you and me
When will cfrica unite
Children scattered abroad
over land and see
When will cfrica unite

What a big question for you and me
When will cfrica unite
Children scattered abroad over land and sea
When will cfrica unite

I shout aloud
and cry from a broken voice

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lutan Fyah's song "Africa" speak to the longing for unity and peace in the African continent. The song addresses the division and conflicts that have plagued Africa, with children scattered abroad over land and sea. Lutan Fyah poses the question of when Africa will unite and calls out for the need to come together.

The lyrics highlight the frustration and despair felt by the artist, as he shouts aloud and cries from a broken voice. He observes the ongoing attacks and conflicts that tear African nations apart, questioning why love and peace are not embraced as the answers. Despite this, the artist emphasizes the importance of standing together and rising above the hardships, saying "together we stand with all of the above."

Lutan Fyah also touches on the issues of jealousy and tribalism that contribute to division, calling for tolerance and love to surround the people. He expresses the vision of a united Africa, with one continent, one currency made from gold, and an interway rail system connecting regions from east to west, north to south. The artist also addresses the historical exploitation of Africa, advocating for the liberation of borders and rejecting any notion that the black man needs a vaccine from outside sources.

Overall, Lutan Fyah's "Africa" is a powerful call for unity, peace, and the eradication of division within the African continent. It seeks to inspire Africans to come together, to heal the wounds of the past, and to build a future where love and understanding prevail.

Line by Line Meaning

What a big question for you and me
The issue of Africa uniting is a significant and complex topic that requires thoughtful consideration from both you and me.

When will Africa unite?
At what point in time will the nations of Africa come together as one unified entity?

Children scattered abroad over land and sea
The young generation of Africa is dispersed far and wide across different countries and continents.

I shout aloud and cry from a broken voice
I express my frustration and sorrow passionately, but my voice is weakened by the struggles and hardships.

They keep on attacking the door
They persistently cause conflicts and pose obstacles in our path to unity.

Me see all sort of conflict, mashing we up
I witness various forms of conflict that tear us apart and hinder our progress.

When peace is the answer, they show no love
Even when peace is the solution, those in power fail to prioritize love and understanding.

But together we stand, with all of the above
Despite the challenges, we remain united and determined, embracing all the principles mentioned earlier.

Some cheap, some cheeky, never get enough
Some people are deceitful and always want more, never satisfied with what they have.

Jealousy exposure getting us down
The constant presence of jealousy among us weighs heavily on our spirits and holds us back.

Like one to another we have to calm down
We must learn to control our emotions and treat each other with tranquility and respect.

Tolerate let love surround
We should promote tolerance and allow love to embrace our interactions and relationships.

Yeah we need one continent, one flow
It is crucial for Africa to become a united continent, with a seamless flow of resources, ideas, and collaboration.

One kind of currency made from gold
Adopting a single currency backed by gold would facilitate economic integration and stability.

One chain link east, west, north, and south
We must establish interconnected transportation systems that span across the entire continent, linking all regions.

Interway rail system from here to Cairo
Implementing an efficient railway network that stretches from one end of Africa to the other, including Cairo.

Africa nah need not a head, nah a loan
Africa does not require a leader who controls everything or relies on foreign loans to prosper.

Free up every border, a no tribal zone
Let's eliminate the restrictions between nations, ensuring that ethnicity or tribe does not divide us.

And make sure you tell WHO, black man don't need vaccine, oh no
We must confidently assert to international organizations that the black community does not require unnecessary vaccinations.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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