Videos Of Lion Dub Steppas Skanking (Doing The Rastaman Step) In Ladysmith, Kwa Zulu, South Africa (with comments)

Mabutho Justice, May 26, 2021 -snip-
"Do Not Touch The General" is the name of this dub (record). Some commenters
asked who the artist is who recorded that song, but that information wasn't noted (yet).

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series about Rastafarians in South Africa.

This post presents some YouTube videos from 2018 of  South African Rastas skanking (dancing) in Ladysmith, Kwa Zulu, South Africa. Ths post also presents selected comments from most of those videos' discussion threads.  Some of those comments refer to the spiritual purposes of Rastas' skanking in contrast to skanking that is done for entertainment purposes only. 

My description of this dancing is also included in this post. Additions and corrections are welcome.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/04/information-about-rastafarians-in-south.html
for Part I of this pancocojams series.  That post presents excerpts of two online articles about Rastafarians in South Africa. Prior to Oct. 10, 2022 this series was presented in one post. 

The content of this post is presented for cultural and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to rhe publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/04/information-videos-comments-about.html for additional information and comments about "skanking". That post also showcases other videos of skanking.

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MY DESCRIPTION OF RASTAS SKANKING IN SOUTH AFRICA
The videos that I've come across of Lion Dub Steppas skanking show people dancing in two horizontal lines facing each other with a space in between. The individual lines may consist of  males and females interspersed in each line, or males facing males. (I haven't come across any videos of females dancing without males.)  Most of the dancers are adults, but some videos feature children who either dance in the lines or dance nearby.

These South African Rasta skankers move side to side while doing foot movements. (Some of which are similar to African American Hip Hop duo Kid & Play's now classic foot linking routine). The two lines eventually move forward approaching the horizontal line that they face. During some of the dances, the dancers may do certain motions with the person facing them (such as motions done in some partner hand claps). Still facing forward, each line eventually returns to their starting position.  At some point, the two horizontal lines form two vertical lines that dance together to the beat in that formation.

One commenter in a discussion thread for one of these videos wrote that these dances "Reminds me of the country dancing I had to do at school". chris shellings, 2021,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly6dKK3QUEQ Rastaman Skanking inna Ladysmith

I can see that. In addition, these dances remind me of some of the movements that were/are done in certain Caribbean Quadrille dances.    

-snip-
It appears that relatively the same choreographed movements are performed in each of these Ladysmith, Kwa Zulu skanking videos.

I wonder if these dance routines were modeled after the Rastas in Kebra, Ethiopia. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6DfnZKLXgg for a video of a group of men and women interspersed skanking in two horizontal lines. 

Please help document these skanking videos by improving this description with the correct dance terms and sequence descriptions. Thanks!

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ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS

SHOWCASE VIDEO #2


Mabutho Justice, Sept. 19, 2019 Lion Dub Steppas rehearsing Gwaan Rastaman Step

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Rasta Skanking

"

Bobo Skanking, Feb 5, 2017

This is how we do it. 
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:

1. Thi Nyameka Mlonyeni, 2018
"can i please have the name of the song thats playing in the background"

**
Reply
2. Elle 22, 2019
"Nyameka Mlonyeni The 2nd song is Protector - Mr Vegas. Not sure what the 1st one is"

**
3. Baatile Lefosa, 2019
"Give thanks to the kings that are skanking FIREEEEEE bUrn babylon."

**
4. Dwight, 2019
"@787ISLANDBOY808 did you ever find out the name of the song. Because I've been looking for it."

**
Reply
5. 787ISLANDBOY808, 2019
"Dwight no my braddah but it’s one mean jam yessahh"

**
6. Robert Hicks, 2019
"Love this, real comunity . Jah bless s is how we do it"

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - Rasta Skanking 02

Mabutho Justice, May 20, 2018  @ Slu Dem in KZN Ladysmith ( Clekta Mabootour)
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:

1. Pink rose, 2021
"I love this! One love my sisters and brothers❤💃

**
2. Sammah Houstafari&I, 2021
"Who sing this song please!

**
Reply
3. Eye Brigade, 2022
"Busy Signal Cherry O Baby"

**
4. Teray Gray Abe, 2022
"Cool great vibes injoying the sun !

Jahrastafari one Love ❤️💛💚"

**
5. Da Royal General, 2022
"irie vibes."

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5:  Rasta Skanking 06


mabutho justice, Dec 1, 2018 Slu Dem ( Gallos dub Session)

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #6: Rastas Skanking 04



Mabutho Justice, Sep 25, 2019

Lion dub Steppas at Ladysmith Kzn South Africa
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:

1. melvin moten, 2020
"Does anyone know what this dub is?

**
Reply
2. Ryan, 2020
"Dubbing outta Babylon (feat. Buriman) · Sista Habesha · Buriman"

**
Reply
3. melvin moten, 2020
"@Ryan  Thank you!"

**
4. Arandora Press, 2021
"Ital steppers. The vibes are there.🔥"

**
5. donna anderson, 2021
"OMG! I love this! I’m gonna learn this. A friend just shared Skanking Sweet with me, and while I understood from the video, that it had to do with releasing oneself from the cares of the world, through dancing, I wanted to understand more! Thank you, so much for sharing this video. I find it meditative, and it makes me feel connected to my Jamaican brothers, and sisters!😘"

**
Reply
6. Sankofa Ashanti, 2022
"Love your message, actually this video is film in Africa either Kenya or Zimbabwe dub muzik is very hugh..we still go skankin in dub session today, check out jah shaka dub sessions in London if u can either your here or on you.tube😎"

**
7. TARIK MOUNIH, 2022
"Skank , skank  ; Dub & Groove Rastaman. 👑 u r the mighty man 💪💯"

**
8. Jeremiah Mwitumwa, 2022
"This is the best Rasta dance move"

**
9. Shantaye Unique, 2022
"Irie 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"

**
10. Superblack, 2022
"This is good but in the old days it used to be danced with more attitude. More open arm movement and particularly back leg flick  behind the calf (fake leg trips etc)..... those we were the days!!!"

**
11. S S, 2022
"Raise the vibration rasta to THE MOST HIGH  👑"

**
12. Scottishly Scubaru14!, 2022
"Yes I hail Rastafari, keep the roots alive! 🔥

**
13. Billy Rovedas, 2022
"Truth and Justice,ah what we as Babylonians ah skank for...Respect.... Livity... Positive Vibration"
-snip-
Here's information about the Rastafarian term "livity"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livity_(spiritual_concept)
"Livity is the Rastafari concept of righteous, everliving living. Its essence is the realization that an energy, or life force, conferred by Jah (God), exists within, and flows through, all people and all living things. This is seen as the presence of Jah living within humans and is often expressed in Rastafari vocabulary as "I and I", where the first "I" refers to the Almighty, the second "I" to oneself. A primary goal in Rastafari meditation is maintaining awareness of I and I.

A primary goal in a Rasta's life is to expand their Livity.[1] In Rastafari philosophy, Livity can be enhanced by intense prayer and meditation (often enhanced by sacramental cannabis use), adherence to an Ital diet, and perhaps most importantly, loving behavior toward others. Livity has a strong focus on living a natural lifestyle that includes the consumption of natural foods and growth of natural hair.[2] This expression of love for others is done in recognition of a central love energy within all people, a concept often referred to as "One Love".[3]"

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #7: Rasta skanking 12

mabutho justice, Jun 25, 2019
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread:

Julian Asher, 2021
"the yaaard was meant for skanking for the Most High. what blessed people. Haile I Selassie know the seed of Ras Tafari is strong in Azania. For Jah will to be done in all the earth. Truth rights equality and justice must stand for all. Blessed be the children of Negusa Nagast forever and ever ameyn. Holy Immanuel I Liveth and reign inna Holy Mount Zion. Shine forth <3 selah word sound and Haile"

****
This concludes Part II of these pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome. 

Two Additional 1964 Film Clips Of Ska Music & Skanking At The Sombrero Club

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series that showcases YouTube videos made from 1964 film clips of Ska music and dancing at The Sombrero Club in Jamaica.

Part II showcases the last two videos of that YouTube series. This post also showcases a summary of a YouTube posting of this complete documentary film, including the artists listings and a comment from another YouTube posting of this film.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/03/information-about-jamaicas-sombrero.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. Part I includes information about The Sombrero Club in Jamaica and showcases the first two videos of that YouTube series.

Selected comments from these videos' discussion threads are also included in those posts.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to Kingstoned - soundzz for publishing these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/04/information-videos-comments-about.html "Jamaican Skanking (Dance) Information, Videos, & Comments" for additional videos of ska music and dancing.

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SUMMARY & COMMENT FROM TWO OTHER YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF THIS 1964 FILM
This Is Ska - Complete Documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGH5Z3cyoMY

JamaicaLandWeLove876, Nov 17, 2015

"In the late 1950s, Ska emerged from the Mento sound. This style of music came about because musicians now began to play around with the sound adding a little calypso here and there as well as some American Jazz, some Rhythm and Blues (R&B) etc. Little did they know that it would have taken the Jamaican sound from Mento to what we know today as SKA!!...

List of songs in video:

Jamaican Ska - Byron Lee & The Dragonaires
Sammy Dead-O - Eric 'Monty' Morris
One Eyed Jack - Jimmy Cliff
Wash Wash - Prince Buster
Treat Me Bad - The Maytals
She Will Never Let You Down - The Maytals
So Marie - The Charmers
Rough 'N' Tough - Stranger Cole
Two Roads Before Me - Roy & Yvonne
I Don't Know - The Blues Busters
Sammy Dead-O - Byron Lee & The Dragonaires
King Of Kings - Jimmy Cliff"

**
Comment From "This is Ska! (3/4) 1964 Jimmy Cliff/Prince Buster/Toots & The Maytals and more... posted by jw31209, Feb 5, 2010 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR_phlSARYM

willieluncheonette, 2016
"Part 3 of the documentary This Is Ska (1964)
Toots and the Maytals are back to lead things off, but somehow Toots has been lost. So just the Maytals, Raleigh Gordon and Jerry McCarthy, are singing. She Will Never Let You Down was released as a single in 1965.

Appearing second are the Charmers, Lloyd Tyrell, better known as Lloyd Charmers and Roy Willis. Charmers is quite famous as a keyboard player in the reggae era as well as a singer and producer. As the Charmers they cut over 50 songs in mostly the ska years. I don't think So Marie was released as a single. .

Third up is a much loved singer, Stranger Cole, who excelled in all three--ska, rock steady and reggae. He cut several hundred songs, both solo and with with other wonderful singers such as Gladdy (Gladstone Anderson), Hortense Ellis, Ken Booth, and Patsy (Patsy Todd) Rough 'N' Tough was a single from 1963.

And last on the bandstand are Roy (Panton) and Yvonne (Adams) Panton sang solo on some ska era songs but he is best known teaming up with other female singers such as Annette, Millie, Patsy and Yvonne. Two Roads Before Me (labeled Two Roads Before Us on the 7") was issued in 1964.

One part to go in this excellent film. Plenty of performances, not much talking---just what I like."
-snip-
I reformatted this comment to enhance its readability.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Example #3: Ska Ska Ska Part 3 - A Regular Ska Session at the Sombrero Club in Jamaica - various artists



Kingstoned - soundzz, Dec 24, 2008

Ska Ska Ska Part 3 - Live at the Sombrero Club in Jamaica - various artists....enjoy!!!
-snip-
Here are three comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purpose only).

1. mooker5600, 2009
"5.01 Roy and Yvonne, I can't belive no one has put up any of their stuff on Youtube. A great duo. I used to listen to their music on pirate radio stations, haven't heard their stuff for years. This brings back memories. If I had their stuff I would certainly post these gems. This was a great four part post."

**
2. moLeOnPoT, 2010
"when did this take place?"

**
3. wellwellsound, 2020
"I think it's more around 1964.
Roy and Yvonne became a duet in 1963. Their first release, "Two Roads," was a hit when it dropped in the spring of 1964. It became a bigger hit when Roy and Yvonne were featured in the film "This Is Ska" singing it."

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Example #4: Ska Ska Ska Part 4 - A Regular Ska Session at the Sombrero Club in Jamaica - various artists



Kingstoned - soundzz, Dec 24, 2008

Ska Ska Ska Part 4 - Live at the Sombrero Club in Jamaica - various artists ...enjoy!!!
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purpose only).
1. Kingstoned - soundzz, 2009
"the name of the dvd = this is ska ...enjoy!!!"

**
2.
bellbottomtear, 2009
"This was fantastic. I watched all four episodes. Thank you so much for sharing this video. Is this available on DVD anywhere?"

**
REPLY
3. Kingstoned - soundzz, 2009
"i have seen it on ebay for 5 dollar so check it out!!!!thx you liked it ...big upp!!!"

**
REPLY
4. GyntherMeyer, 2011
"The film was actually found by people from Swedish TV who went to Jamaica 10 yrs ago to make a program on the music there and "This is Ska" was broadcast on Swedish TV in 2001. I've still got my old TV recording on a video tape and in regards to the year of production the presenter stated the film was made in 1964. Thanks for putting it on YT. :D

**
REPLY
5. GyntherMeyer, 2011
"@GyntherMeyer hmm, after my first post I did a little investigation and it seems that the people from Swedish television "discovered" a film that was already out on VHS and laserdisc, haha. Oh man, it seems they didn't even do a simple Google, LOL. "This is Ska" was released in 1989 on VHS/LD. Oh well.

**
REPLY
6. nebulax, 2011
"@GyntherMeyer - The film was originally shot by a UK TV crew (not sure which network), and then many years later came out on LD and VHS in Japan. I tried for years to find a LD copy, and finally found someone on eBay who was selling DVD-R copies (which appear to have been made from an LD), so I'm pretty satisfied now!"

**
REPLY
7. GyntherMeyer, 2011
"@nebulax Thanks for your reply. I've just this minute checked eBay and guess what, a seller in Japan actually has that laserdisc!! LOL."

**
8. staypress, 2014
"To think acroos the pond the Beatles were tops with A Hard Days night and the Mods were rollin in swinging London thats wot im sayin"

****
This concludes Part II of this two part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Information About Jamaica's Sombrero Club & Two 1964 Film Clips Of Ska Music & Skanking At The Sombrero Club

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series that showcases YouTube videos made from 1964 film clips of Ska music and dancing at The Sombrero Club in Jamaica.

Part I includes information about The Sombrero Club in Jamaica and showcases the first two videos of that YouTube series. Part

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/03/two-additional-1964-film-clips-of-ska.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II showcases the last two videos of that YouTube series.

Selected comments from these videos' discussion threads are also included in those posts.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to Kingstoned - soundzz for publishing these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/04/information-videos-comments-about.html "Jamaican Skanking (Dance) Information, Videos, & Comments" for additional videos of ska music and dancing.

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ARTICLE EXCERPT ABOUT THE SOMBRERO CLUB IN JAMAICA
From http://old.skabook.com/foundationska/2016/07/the-sombrero-club/ Heather Augustyn, July 24, 2016
.... I decided to refresh my spirit with what was likely about my 52nd time viewing "This is Ska” documentary from 1964, hosted by Tony Verity and found on YouTube ..., and I realized I had recently come across an article on the site of this historically crucial film–The Sombrero Club. So here, from the Jamaica Gleaner on November 20, 2005, is the text from that article entitled, “The nightclubs of yesteryear: Sombrero: rustic, intimate,” written by the prolific journalist Mel Cooke.

Just below the famous ‘Four Roads’ intersection of Molynes and Waltham Park Roads in St. Andrew, a long grey wall marks the first right turn. There was a time when 1 Pitter Avenue was not so drab and businesslike, when the sights and sounds of merriment carried all the way to one of the capital city’s major intersections, long before the commerce of construction replaced the commerce of merriment. And although it carried a Mexican name, the senors and senoritas who stepped inside the Sombrero nightclub did it in true Jamaican style.

“When you stay out at Four Roads you can look down and see Sombrero and hear the music. If you climb up on the wall you look down into Sombrero,” said bass player Jackie Jackson, who was once a member of Tommy McCook and the Supersonics and now plays with Toots and the Maytals. Looking over was one thing;
jumping into the fun without paying was quite another matter. “Nobody naa beat the gate,” Jackson said, remembering an entrance fee of 50 shillings. “It was a mature audience.”

It was also an audience that demanded a certain quality of entertainment and, in the height of the band era the cream of the cream played there. “It was one of the premier dance halls for bands, live music,” says Jasper Adams, a regular at The Sombrero. “If you capture the image of the dance hall in London at the time, you get an idea of what it was like.”

The Sombrero was owned by the Young brothers, one of them. Owen, is now reportedly in the USA.

Putting a “1966 onwards” stamp on the heyday of The Sombrero, Adams named Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, as well as Kes Chin and the Souvenirs, among the many bands that played there. But there was one that owned the joint on a Friday night: Carlos Malcolm and the Afro-Caribbean Rhythms, with Winston ‘The Whip’ Williams as the MC. He remembers Derrick Harriott, as part o f the Jiving Juniors, singing there.

Winston Blake of Merritone also notes the presence of The Mighty Vikings, with Sonny and Victor Wong on lead vocals, and a very powerful Tomorrow’s Children, who “were a great show band. They played a lot of Chicago.”

“The Sombrero came up when the Bournmouthe (in East Kingston) sort of got down. It was the new uptown place,” Adams said. “The lively era was when you had to park on Moresham Avenue.”

“Normally the place would ripen from Monday to Sunday, but Friday night was dance night,” Adam s said. On Sundays there was jazz. put on by Ken Peart, with people like Billy Cooke on trumpet, Thaddy Mowatt on bass and Aubrey Adams on piano.

With a raised bandstand over the dance floor, performers got a bird’s eye view of the audience they were playing to. Whether jazz or dance (or in the later days of the club, the sound system of Merritone Music), the decor of Sombrero was standard and, for the time, very different. “It no run down or mash up,” Jackie Jackson emphasised, terming it as what would now be boo, and there were four covered edges around the dance floor. “It was square, like a carton box,” Jackson said. And along with the rusticity was a certain feature that made it even more notable. “The club dark!” Jackson said, laughing. “That was what the club was famous for. It just dark and nice.”

As Winston Blake of Merritone puts it, The Sombrero was “extremely intimate”. He ”also recalls an outstanding feature of the decor which was really natural. There was an almond tree at the right of the entrance, which was on Molynes Road. “Merritone took the last lap,” Blake said of The Sombrero. “We used to play there midweek and weekends. It was the place to go on a Saturday night. It was a dress-up place, suits. Those days when you went to a night-club you wore a jacket. We are talking about the late 1960s, about 1965 to 1972.”

He said Merritone actually played there till the days of the Sombrero as a nightclub came to an end. “For us, Sombrero was a lot of daylight sessions, 4:00 a.m., 5:00 a.m., 6:00 a.m. At some of these sessions breakfast was served,” he said. “We called it the mid-week and breakfast club,” he said, chuckling.

There was a particular item that Sombrero was renowned for, which was not necessarily breakfast fare. Their chicken was fried, fabulous and famous. Jackie Jackson equates the clientele in the club to the other great place for bands at the time, the Glass Bucket in Half-Way Tree, “At the same time the Glass Bucket used to bring out the upscale people, Sombrero used to bring out the little bit down,” he said.

And, eventually, it was bringing out fewer and fewer of them. “It just did its time. We notice it start getting less and less, till we just stop going there,” Jackson said. ‘That is Jamaica. Everything is just for a while.”...

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Example #1: Ska Ska Ska Part 1 - A Regular Ska Session at the Sombrero Club in Jamaica - various artists



Kingstoned - soundzz, Dec 24, 2008

This is ska,, there were little pieces of this film on you tube now its complete in 4 parts hope you like this one its a great documentary about a ska party in jamaica in that time at the sombrero club ..so if you want to learn how to dance the ska see this video ...on part 2 3 and 4 you can .see jimmy clif, the blues busters ,the maytals prince buster and some other artists doing there best to make a good video ,lots of energie introduced by byron lee ....enjoy!!! merry x-mas to every1 and a happy 2009
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purpose only).
1. PrinceAndrew100. 2009
"Only thing is that's NOT how you do the ska!"

**
REPLY
2. ehites, 2012
"Folks need to know that Byron Lee & the Dragonaires (with all due respect) were basically a copy band, for a long time, and played mostly covers early on (like this song) for the "uptown" crowd. Downtown (and country) ska was a bit different, definitely less contrived. . This is actually kinda funny.. I'm sure very few TOWN ska dances were filmed, if any are out there I wish they would surface!!! (These comments from one who knows...and who knows knows..)"

**
3. Carlos Trujillo, 2010
"ska rules!!!"

**
4. jamessalter1, 2011
"Thats rowing, not humping then."

**
5. skarapado, 2012
"SKINHEAD REMEMBER YOUR ROOTS
BLACK ROOTS!!!"
-snip-
Click https://www.okayplayer.com/originals/vic-mensa-black-skinhead.html for the article "Black Skinhead: Vic Mensa And The Distortion Of The Skinhead Subculture" by Elijah C. Watson, June 05, 2018

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Example #2: Ska Ska Ska Part 2 - A Regular Ska Session at the Sombrero Club in Jamaica - various artists



Kingstoned - soundzz, Dec 24, 2008

This Is Ska Part 2 Live at the Sombrero Club in Jamaica...ENJOY!!!
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purpose only).
1. bgoodmann, 2010
"Kojak, to answer both your questions, Prince Buster appears to be wearing a Chicago Bears hat. I doubt he was a fan of American football in the early 1960's and probably got the hat for the letter "C" logo. Prince Busters birth name was Cecil Campbell. The bass player in the clip is Byron Lee, bandleader of the Dragonaires."

**
2. TONE B HURT, 2015
"THIS IZ IT! FANTASTIC. JAMAICA SKA, SOME OF THE GREATEST EVER........TOOTS & THE MAYTALS, PRINCE BUSTER, BYRON LEE & THE DRAGONAIRES +pablowkingstoned U R Thee Best!"

**
3. MickyP4, 2016
"WHAT YEAR WAS THIS FILMED ??? THE SPIRIT OF 69 TRU SKINS LOVED THE MUSIC & CLOBBER"

**
REPLY
4. Rastawelt, 2016
"1964 in Kingston, Jamaica"

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This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Two Article Excerpts About Rastafarians In South Africa

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series about Rastafarians in South Africa.

This post excerpts of  two online articles about Rastafarians in South Africa.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/10/videos-of-rastas-skanking-in-ladysmith.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II presents some YouTube videos from 2021 of  South African Rastas skanking (dancing). That post also presents selected comments from those video's discussion threads.  Some of those comments refer to the spiritual purposes of Rastas' skanking in contrast to skanking that is done for entertainment purposes only. 

The content of this post is presented for cultural, spiritual, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. 
-snip-
Prior to October 8, 2022 this series was presented in one post.

In addition to these posts, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/04/information-videos-comments-about.html for additional information and comments about "skanking". That post also showcases other videos of skanking.

****
EXCERPTS FROM TWO ONLINE ARTICLES ABOUT RASTAFARIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Excerpt #1:
From http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1011-76012014000200011
"J. Study Relig. vol.27 n.2 Pretoria 2014

The Rastafarian movement in South Africa: A religion or way of life?
[by] Midas H. Chawane
University of Johannesburg, Department of Historical Studies...

ABSTRACT

Rastafarians object to the classification of their movement as a religion. Their objection is based on the belief that the movement is more of a way of life than a religion. This is in spite of the fact that the movement is grounded on religious principles which makes non-Rastafarians to view it as a religion. In order to understand the nature of the movement, it is important to define the concept religion in general and as understood by Rastafarians themselves. By looking at some religious movements, and how the Rastafarian movement is both similar and different to them, this paper argues that it is its religious character that makes the movement sustainable. Thus, this article looks at the principles underlying other religious movements such as Judaism, Christianity, African Traditional Religion, Black/African, and Liberation Theologies against those of the Rastafarian movement.

1. Introduction

When Rastafari first emerged in Jamaica in the 1930's, it started as a dynamic religious movement which through time transformed itself into a movement that challenges prevailing social, economic and political orders. In spite of the fact that overtime it developed into a way of life for its followers, it retained its original character - that of a religious movement challenging and at times complementing other mainstream religions. This paper argues that although Rastafarianism is seen as a way of life by its adherents (i.e. determining their social, political and economic lives) its persistence is largely due to its religious nature. The social, political and economic lives of Rastafarians in South Africa (like anywhere where the movement exists) are mainly linked to their religious beliefs. This article also looks at the different facets of the movement and argues that despite its many facets, it is its religious nature that sustains its existence.

The main purpose of this paper is to establish how the movement is both different from and similar to other religious movements. This is done by looking at the circumstances under which the movement came into being in Jamaica and South Africa; its nature and belief systems; the extent to which the movement shares some fundamental principles with other religions; and major differences and similarities with other religious movements. In order to achieve these aims, it is important to define the concept religion, examine the nature and origin of the Rastafarian movement in general and in South Africa in particular.

[...]


4. Rastafari in South Africa

Rastafari was first introduced formally in South Africa on 28 December 1997 when Rastafarians from most South African provinces attended a gathering in Grasmere, south of Johannesburg. However, the ideological foundation was laid long before its formal inception. Its origin in South Africa can be linked to two important movements, namely Ethiopianism and Garveyism (Chawane 2014:93-114). These two movements were responsible for laying the foundation for Rastafarian religious nature. Ethiopianism is the notion that the modern state of Ethiopia fulfils biblical prophecy of the rise of a dominant nation as represented primarily in Psalm 68:31, interpreted to be a reference to Africa. This idea places Ethiopia either as symbolic or actual homeland and, therefore, functions both as a source of identity and a destination for repatriation for Africans living outside of Africa. Garvey (or Garveyism) lays out an argument for the creation of a Black homeland, Ethiopia, Africa, Zion or heaven (Chawane 2014: 93-114).

Garveyism is the philosophy of Marcus Garvey, a descendant from the fiercely proud Maroons, who was born in 1887 in the town of St. Ann, Jamaica. At the age of fourteen he discovered that there were differences between human races, and he eventually became very conscious of his Jamaican roots which could be traced to Africa. For Rastafarians, Garvey was seen as the 'Black Moses' who was to emancipate blacks from 'Babylon' (oppression) to Zion (heaven). The word 'Babylon' is derived from the activities of the infamous king of the biblical 'Babylon' who, according to Rastafarians, inspired the Persian, Greek, Roman, British and American oppressive regimes (Chawane 2014: 93-114). Notions of 'Babylon' are used in dialectical opposition to notions of ' Zion' (Africa, Ethiopia or heaven), considered the authentic and holy motherland, referred to as the 'Garden of Eden', and the 'cradle of all mankind'. 'Zion' is perceived as the place, where all gather who haven't accepted the wrong teachings of 'Babylon'. It's the point of intersection where Judaism and Christianity meet. 'Zion', according to Rastafarians, is God's kingdom on earth (Chawane 2014: 93-114).

Consequently, Garvey is regarded as the prophet of the movement. Rastafarians are therefore inheritors of the thought world and cosmology of Marcus Garvey. Garvey can be regarded as an immediate contributor to an Afro-centric reading of the Bible that Rastafarians inherited. Garvey builds upon these ideas, and presents for Rastafarians a model of an African centred approach to biblical interpretation that starts with critical reflection upon the social and political conditions of persons of African descent (Chawane 2014: 93-114) . His Afrocentric interpretation of the Bible, his Ethiopianist vision and philosophy of blackness influenced Rastafarians (Davidson 2008: 46-60). The notions of Ethiopianism, Zionism, exile and return or repatriation to Africa as it appear in Rastafarian contexts; specific portions and concepts of the Bible is rhetorically inspired by Marcus Garvey's thought. The usage of the word Babylon reflects the Rastafarian development of Garvey's Afro-centric Bible readings and the advancement of a Black Zionism (Davidson 2008: 46-60). Garveyism laid the religious foundation on which Rastafarians were to build their world view because of its link with Zionism."...

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Excerpt #2:
From https://theculturetrip.com/africa/south-africa/articles/welcome-to-knysna-south-africas-largest-rastafarian-community/ "Welcome to Knysna, South Africa's Largest Rastafarian Community"
By Carina Claassens, UPDATED: 14 JUNE 2017
"In the heart of the Garden Route, just outside of Knysna, you’ll find a bustling and sustainable Rastafarian community. Members are committed to conserving the surrounding area and living an overall better way of life, while staying true to their Rastafarian ideals.

History of Judah Square
Judah Square was established in 1993 in Knysna’s Khayalethu Township and is the largest working Rastafarian community in South Africa.

After being granted title deeds to the land, the community established Judah Square into a formal settlement which houses a variety of different organisations, within the Rastafarian belief system.

After the initial establishment of Judah Square, the Rastafari formed House of Judah (HOJ), a co-op that’s involved with different community projects as well as the Knysna Municipality, SANParks, Cape Nature and more.

[...]

Celebrating Earth Day
Earth Day is one of the most celebrated events at Judah Square and is open to anyone who wants to attend, whether Rastafari or not. The celebration entails seven days of worship and a further three days of music, food and culture. The event is open to the public and is a fantastic way to experience the Rasta way of life firsthand."...

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This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.
  
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Visitor comments are welcome.

Jamaican Skanking (Dance) Information, Videos, & Comments

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Revision: October 8, 2022

This pancocojams post presents some information, videos, and comments about Jamaican skanking (dance forms).

The Addendum to this post presents a video of an American ska punk band which includes examples of ska punk skanking. This video is showcased as a means of comparing one example of that dance form with several examples of Jamaican skanking.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, spiritual, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
I was motivated to find out information about skanking after reading this comment in the discussion thread for a video of Barrington Levy's song "Too Experienced" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBDhHZRmMW4
Kolussus, 2019
"No matter what mood I am in whenever I hear this song I get up and skank."
-snip-
Although I had seen this dance performed (in videos), I didn't know what it was called before looking up the information found in this post and watching these videos.

Additions and corrections are welcome.

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INFORMATION ABOUT SKANKING
Update: April 4, 2019
From http://jamaicanpatwah.com/term/Skanking/2754#.XKX48phKi70
"Skanking
Definition
A form of dancing originating in Jamaica, now most notably done in Ska/Reggae shows.

Example Sentences
Patois: Yuh saw dat bwoy skanking to dis [riddim]?
English: Have you seen this boy dancing to the beat?

Related Words*
Wine, Daggering, Bubble, Dutty wine

posted by Greenllabel on February 26, 2017
-snip-
*These related words are other forms of Jamaican dances.
-snip-
End of April 4, 2019 Update

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From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skank_(dance)
"Skanking is a form of dancing practiced in the ska, ska punk, hardcore punk, reggae, jump-up (a drum and bass subgenre) and other music scenes.

The dance style originated in the 1950s or 1960s at Jamaican dance halls, where ska music was played.[1] Ska music has a prominent backbeat played by the electric guitar on beats two and four of a 4/4 bar of music. When ska became popular amongst British mods and skinheads of the 1960s, these UK youth adopted these types of dances and altered them. The dancing style was revived during the 1970s and 1980s 2 Tone era, and has been adopted by some individuals in the hardcore punk subculture.

Types
Originally, skanking consisted of a “running man” motion of the legs to the beat while alternating bent-elbow fist-punches, left and right.[1] Over time, variations emerged. The punk version features a sharp striking out look with the arms, and is sometimes used in moshing to knock around others doing the same. However, this is rarely seen as an act of true aggression but rather a consensual release of emotion.

This rough appearance tends to lead to negative stereotypes of violence, though they are rare at best and almost never tolerated by venue operators, bands, or other audience members. While the flailing, swinging, and pushing may appear dangerous, there is almost always a conscious effort by each dancer in the 'pit' to refrain from actually striking or hurting each other. Additionally, should any one person trip and fall, others in the group tend to avoid trampling them, or even help them to get back up.

The style, speed, and moves used when skanking are as diverse as the music it is performed to, usually dictated by its rhythm and genre. For example, the skanking done at a reggae concert would typically be slower and more restrained than the skanking done at a hardcore punk show. An example of this is the lighter style known as 'stroll' which has become popularized by American ska-punk bands, mainly Big D and the Kids Table. In this style, dancers tend to 'stroll' in a circle around the center 'pit' while rhythmically swaying from side to side with arms bent and marching in sync to the music."...

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Update: April 4, 2019 [4:20 PM] - EXAMPLES OF THE WORD "SKANK" AND "SKANKING" IN TWO BOB MARLEY SONGS
The word "skank" is found in the lyrics for the Bob Marley song "Lively Up Yourself." That song is featured in Marley's 1973 album Natty Dread:

[excerpt] ..."Hey, you rock so, you rock so, like you never did before
You dip so, you dip so, and you can dip through my door
You come so, you come so, oh yeah, like I do adore you
You skank so, you skank so, and-a I can assure you"...

https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/8433/

The word "skanking" is also the title for and part of the lyrics for the Bob Marley song "Easy Skanking" that is included in his 1978 album Kaya.

[excerpt] ... "Take it easy, easy skanking
Got to take it easy, easy skanking
Take it easy, easy skanking
Got to take it easy, easy skanking"...

https://genius.com/Bob-marley-and-the-wailers-easy-skanking-lyrics
-snip-
end of April 4, 2019 4:10 PM update

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS

These videos are presented in chronological order with the oldest published video given first.
 
Video #1: Jamaica Skank



mightymikea69, Published on Feb 7, 2009
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:

1.dman6442, 2009
"It's like the precursor for the Heel-Toe. And that's how you skank it easy"...

**
2. Reggie Cameron, 2011
"Thanks for this I'v e been looking everywhere for this type of dance. Its a shame if we don't document these dances all this stuff will be lost forever."

**
3. Meursault40, 2011
"I love how there is a woman obliviously cooking in the background. LOL. Thanks for posting this . . . been looking for traditional Jamaican skanking . ."

**
4. Chettaman12, 2011
"It's amazing to see how the British (white boys) have totally destroyed skanking. What they do makes it look like a dance that they are mad at themselves about something. LOL. This vid is tight. Real skanking."

**
REPLY
5. elgrano, 2012
"Well, at least they support it and keep the sound alive today while paying respect to the originators. Because today, on the island it originated from, they won't listen to it as it's "grandpa's music."

**
REPLY
6. : o ), 2012
"Music get's old man, no reason to be all bitter and weird about it. The world does not need people keeping 3rd wave ska alive lol."

**
7. daone billygunnz, 2013
"skank the night away! hahahah"

**
8. KingKoopaXIII, 2014
"Diggen the Song, anyone know it?"

**
REPLY
9. Eric Iverson, 2014
"it's a remake of The Specials song "You're wondering now" dunno by who though!"

**
REPLY
10. amancalledlime, 2016
"Would really love to know who did this version ....little slower than the original...any ideas????"

**
REPLY
11. Lemõn Jellõ, 2016
"amancalledlimey George and Lisa Banton"

**
12. Litseen Pookie, 2016
"this is real skanking"

**
13. Gomila Droogies, 2017
"A bit different to how we skinheads do it, looks cool though, happy skankin!"

**
14. AL N MC BEE, 2017
"wey di kick it breadda- Wicked madd skanking- Respeck!!"

**
15. Tiffany Graham, 2018
"2:05 Hahahah if you have Jamaican parents you know!"

**
16. leftylimbo, 2018
"Long time style man ...original skanking! 👍🏾👊🏾💥💀"

**
17. WARRIOR STEPPA, 2018
"True Champion here...this man showing the proper way to dance to ska, feeling the beat while shuffling your feet!!!"

**
18. Jessefresh909 Morales, 2019
"Cheers to u sir!! 🍻🍻🍻 true skanking! True rudeboy!💛💛👌👌👌👌👌👌"

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Video #2: Jamaican Skanking



Chris Jones, April 26, 2017
-snip-
Here are three comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:

1. Island RAW, 2017
"yeah man skanking bless king"

** 
2.  MeVoy RBG365, 2020
"Jamaicans turn the party up to 1000 no matter where they go. Papi is ole school skanking"

**
3. Marsha D, 2021
"Only a Jamaican...can skank, have good vibes, bring energy, feeling irie no matter what problems and situations they are facing.."

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Video #3: How Jamaicans Dance to Bob Marley & Other Reggae Music | EpicwowMoments

Epic Wow Moments, Sep 6, 2018 In Jamaica you will always have a fun time!
Music: Bob Marley & The Wailers: #1 Natural Mystics; #2 Rastaman Live Up
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only: 

1. Danny Selvey, 2020
"Brilliant dance loving the wobbly leg"

**
2. Tinette Izdash!t, 2021
"I love skyankin'! Skyank wit mi red stripe & spliff. Boss! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"

**
3. Queenie bee, 2021
"Gwannn rasta 🇯🇲"

**
4, a1lover78, 2022
"Rasta have footworks for days ."

**
5. JOSCHKA HURST, 2022
"YES I, This is epic a ranking yard style."

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ADDENDUM: Reel Big Fish - Don't Stop Skankin

Rock Ridge Music. Published on Feb 6, 2013

From the new album "Candy Coated Fury"
-snip-
Here's information about this band from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reel_Big_Fish
"Reel Big Fish is an American ska punk band from Orange County, California, best known for the 1997 hit "Sell Out". The band gained mainstream recognition in the mid-to-late 1990s, during the third wave of ska with the release of the gold certified album Turn the Radio Off. Soon after, the band lost mainstream recognition but gained an underground cult following. As of 2006, the band is no longer signed to a major record label, and has since been independent. After many line-up changes throughout the years, front man Aaron Barrett is the only remaining founding member in the band.

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Derrick Morgan - "John Crow Skank" (example, lyrics, comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a sound file of Derrick Morgan's 2001 Ska (or early Reggae?) tune "John Crow Skank". A bonus sound file of Lee "Scratch" Perry's instrumental record "John Crow Skank" is also included in this post.

This post also includes my speculations about the use of the name "John Crow" for these and other records.

Information about skanking and a video that documents an early form of skanking is presented in the Addendum to this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Derrick Morgan, and to Lee "Scratch" Perry for their musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all the publishers of videos that are included in this post.

RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/09/john-crow-part-i-what-john-crow-means.html "What "John Crow" Means In Jamaica"

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SHOWCASE SOUND FILE: Derrick Morgan - John Crow Skank - Pama Reggae



Mrrkdino, Published on Oct 8, 2012

Boss tune from Derrick Morgan.
-snip-
This is from the album "Straighten Up - Vol.2."

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LYRICS: JOHN CROW SKANK
(Derrick Morgan)

Wacka wacka
Wacka wacka

Wacka wacka
Wacka wacka

Hey eh eh hey, little girl,
Little one girl
All dressed in blue.
You standin in the corner
Like you don’t know what to do.
Do you see that man
In his barefoot pants?
Just take him by his hand and say
Come let’s dance
The John Crow Skank.
Baby, will you do that?
Hun.
The John Crow Skank
Baby, will you do that?

Wacka wacka
Wacka wacka wacka

Lift the right foot out
And you jump to the back.
Shake your shoulders,
Get right on the beat.
That’s the John Crow Skank.
Baby, will you do that?
Hey!

Lift your arms,
And you rock your body line.
Jump to the back, baby, baby
Shake it in the line,
The John Crow Skank.
Baby, will you do that?
Hun.

Little one mama,
Dressed in your hot pants
You’re standing there
Why don’t you jump and prance?
You see that man
In his barefoot pants?
Just take him by his hands and say
Come let’s dance
The John Crow Skank.
Baby, you are doin it fine.
Hun!
The John Crow Skank
Baby you are doin it fine
Hey!

Wacka wacka
wacka wacka wacka
Wacka wacka
Hey!
-snip-
"Wacka wacka")
-snip-
This transcription is by Azizi Powell. Additions and corrections are welcome.

I think that "Wacka wacka" (or similarly spelled words) is meant to be imitative of the sound a vulture (John Crow) makes.

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BONUS SOUND FILE: Lee Perry - Kotch Up Dub & John Crow Skank



RootsReggaeDubAmsterdam, Uploaded on Mar 13, 2010

From The Album: Skanking With The Upsetter
-snip-
"John Crow Skank" begins at 4:40 of this video.

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ADDENDUM: INFORMATION ABOUT SKANKING [DANCE]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skank_(dance)
"Skanking is a form of dancing practiced in the ska, ska punk, hardcore punk, reggae, jump-up (a drum and bass sub-genre) and other music scenes.

The dance style originated in the 1950s or 1960s at Jamaican dance halls, where ska music was played.[1] British mods and skinheads of the 1960s adopted these types of dances and altered them. The dancing style was revived during the 1970s and 1980s 2 Tone era, and has been adopted by some individuals in the hardcore punk subculture.

Originally, skanking consisted of a “running man” motion of the legs to the beat while alternating bent-elbow fist-punches, left and right.[1] Over time, however, variations have emerged across the musical world. The punk version features a sharp striking out look with the arms, and is sometimes used in moshing to knock around others doing the same."...

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Skanking, Lesson By Tony Verity



Jyo Ska Uploaded on Jul 7, 2008

Ska Documental in 'Sombrero Club' With Byron Lee & The Dragonaires. Jamaica 1964
-snip-
Here's a comment about skanking from that video's viewer comment thread:
hultonclint, Feb 17, 2009
"This kind of dancing was sort of manufactured. Prince Buster himself said there was no distinct "ska dance" like this. Basically, this was to fit it "ska" as one of the "dance crazes" (think Cha cha cha, rhumba, the Twist, etc) that consumer (upper class) audience would do at the time. One way the music industry sold records was by popularizing dances that went w/ certain music. In 1964, there was an attempt to popularize ska in the US as the latest craze which is why they made up these moves."

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SPECULATIONS ABOUT WHY THE NAME "JOHN CROW" WAS USED FOR THIS DANCE
I'm assuming that "John Crow Skank" was (is) just one of a number of different ways of "skanking".

Derrick Morgan's "John Crow Skank" fits the description of an of instructional dance song in that part of its lyrics give instructions as to how to do that dance. But I'm curious as to why the name "John Crow" would be used for a type of dance.

This article http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090517/arts/arts1.html Extracts from the 'Jamaica Journal' - "Plants, Spirits and the meaning of 'John' in Jamaica" by John Rashford (May 17, 2009) suggests that [the plant that Jamaicans call] "John Crow Bead, and it links - by virtue of John as a generic term - to the Christmas dancing in Jamaica called John Canoe (also spelled Jonkonnu) and to the vulture called John Crow (Cathartes aura)... all have the name John because of their relationship to the world of spirits and spirit possession."

That article also indicates that "John Canoe, who is the chief dancer of a troupe of dancers, is the spirit person or obeahman (variously described as a witch doctor, magician, jumbie-man or sorcerer) and both the John Crow and the John Crow Bead are associated with death and with materials used in the practice of obeah."
-snip-
I don't think that the John Crow Skank was meant to be religious or refer to death or the spirit world. Yet, if the concept of John Crow was connected to the Jonkanoo dancers, did that connection inluence the choice of the name "John Crow" for this skank dance. Or could the choice of that dance name be as uncomplicated as the possibility that the John Crow (Jamaican vulture) might be known for its dance like movements? Having never seen a John Crow, I don't know if its movements could be equated to a dance or not.

It should also be noted that Jamaicans also refer to a type of rhythm as "John Crow Skank rhythm".
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090719/ent/ent8.html "STORY OF THE SONG - One line makes a 'Bangarang'"
Editor's Note: This article is about the 1968 record "Bangarang" by Lester Sterling & Stanger Cole]
..."John Crow Skank

Among the musicians with whom [music producer Bunny 'Striker'] Lee worked at the time were Lloyd Chalmers, Aston and Carlton Barrett and Robbie Shakespeare. Cole definitely remembers keyboard player Glen Adams playing on Bangarang, introducing what was called the 'John Crow Skank' style into Jamaican music in the process"...

Another example of this rhythm is http://www.allmusic.com/song/john-crow-skank-rhythm-preacher-man-uk395-mt0012977802 John Crow Skank Rhythm: Preacher Man (UK395)

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