Ras Sherman releases songs on social woes
He’s better known for his poetry than his music but the artist with a new cassette who visited us Thursday is not just your everyday wannabe rap star. The experiences he sings about are very much rooted in reality.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Sherman Gillett better known as Ras Sherman and a number of local artists have released a new cassette, “Red, Gold and Green.” The release includes songs that speak about the social problems in Belizean society.
Sherman Gillett
“Well first thing, you have to big up the brethren that really wrote “Charming” like Sherman Poe and the brethren Joseph San Nubal. He is nuff respect and I am glad that they brought a song together like that to show the sisters how charming they are and that not any man can come and just grab their skin and treat them those kinds of ways. They should know to dress properly and be a woman. Respect and prestige are what carry you out in this world and that’s what we want the women to know that we love them. We don’t want to abuse them, we want to teach them, help them, and guide them. We want them to be upfull girls and women and citizens of this country.”
“Well the story behind incest is that it’s a crime that is going on behind the doors, undercover. In many homes, children, young children especially the sisters are being abused by elders and many people know it’s going on but they try to shun it off, they try to shut up they mouth. Little children are suffering and Jah love the little children. So I got up and I wrote this song “Incest” to show them that…bring out the light in the darkness, bring it out and let them know to respect the little children. Let them grow up to be a woman with nuff love and let them go through the fulfillment of their life.”
Gillett, who spent 3 years in Hattieville prison on drug possession charges says since he was released in 1994, he has changed his lifestyle and is sending out a strong message to troubled youths.
Sherman Gillett
“No time to idle and lamentate. Marcus Garvey said to make work and be creative. No time to lamentate and “lamp up” with evil thinking and hanging on the corners and stuff like that. Get up and be creative. Just think pray and ask God to give you wisdom and he will show you a way. You have to move to things, you can’t wait for things to come to you.”
If you would like a copy of the cassette “Red, Gold and Green” please contact Ethnelda Paulino at the Belmopan Comprehensive School.