Dube's Reggae Music Has Roots In South Africa.
 
                While successful reggae artists have traditionally hailed
                from the Island of Jamaica, over the past decade South
                African native Lucky Dube has delivered some of the most
                conscious and substantive roots reggae songs to hit the
                airwaves.
       
                Taking his queues from reggae music fathers Peter Tosh and
                Bob Marley, Dube's musical style is grounded in the essence
                of the genere's original spirit. From the beginning his
                lyrics have brought an original voice to reggae by
                chronicling the political and spiritual struggles of his
                South African bredren.
       
                Dube reveals that he was attracted to the spiritual messages
                of reggae music and in 1985, after a successful debut as a
                traditional Zulu Mbaganga artist, he debuted his first
                reggae album Rasta Never Die. But the decision to make a
                change in the direction of his career was not simple or
                initially well accepted explains Lucky.

                "I had to record and release my first album without the
                knowledge or support of my label, because they thought the
                people had already accepted me as a Zulu artist and they
                wouldn't accept reggae from a South African," said Dube.

                Lucky admits that early acceptance of his music was limited.
                "The people [South Africans] only wanted to hear reggae from
                Jamaican artists. " But with the release of his two
                following albums, Think About The Children and Slave, Dube
                quickly gained international acceptance.

                To date, the prolific Lucky Dube has produced nine highly
                successful reggae albums, including the multi-platinum
                released House Of Exile and Victims. His diverse lyrical
                appetite has addressed such issues as the political
                realities of his country, racial misconceptions, women and
                children living in poverty, and affairs of the heart.

                With the release of his newest album TRINITY - his first
                project for the Motown/Tabu label - Dube furthers his legacy
                of conscious party music. As with his previous efforts, Dube
                wrote and arranged all of the songs. The new project,
                however, also finds Dube taking on a greater role in the
                production of his music.

                The songs on TRINITY are soul-stirring and true to their
                origins of their reggae grooves. Stand-out songs include the
                musically compelling title track and lead single "Trinity"
                and "My Brother, My Enemy," both of which speak to changing
                political atmosphere of South Africa, while songs such as
                "Pupper Master" and "Life In The Movies" takes issue with
                corrupt politicians and abusive police officers. Lucky Dube
                is currently on a worldwide tour in support of his newest
                release.

                Ethnic NewsWatch © SoftLine Information, Inc., Stamford, CT

                Rhea, Shawn E., Dube's Reggae Music Has Roots In South
                Africa., New York Beacon, The, 09-27-1995, pp PG.