Marlon Asher otherwise known as The Ganja Planter or The Ganja Farmer to some has taken Trinidad and Tobago by storm in a way not seen since Nappy Mayers recorded Ole Time Days.
By Wayne BowmanThe hard-hitting, no-holds-barred song that speaks out against police "Weedeater" eradication of the illegal ganja crop , is on the lips of everyone from kids at school, to ghetto youths, to club "groupies" and "yuppies" and, believe it or not, balding corporate "suits".
The censored version of the song enjoys heavy rotation on the radio stations, while the uncut form is selling like hot hops on the streets and can be heard blasting from nearly every maxi, taxi and PH as they speed past. Even people who have never even been up close and personal with a spliff are singing along with Asher as he chants about the frustrations a marijuana farmer endures whenever the law burns his field, whatever his silence on the violence associated with the industry as young men gun down each other over "turf".
The first thing most people want to know about Asher is; if he really is a ganja farmer. No he is not now or ever has been a ganja planter. "But I love herb," Asher proclaimed as he sat down for an interview on Thursday at the Zen Nightclub, Keate Street, Port of Spain following a rehearsal with Maxi Priest's band for a concert that same night. Asher said he was inspired to compose "Ganja Planter" because of what he has seen his friends who are marijuana farmers face regularly.
"I was never a farmer, but I have friends who are and seeing what they have to go through when police burn their fields inspired me to create the song. People must understand that planters have mouths to feed and this is how they earn a living to do so. Putting aside the fact that herb is life and everything else about that, when you think about the work and money a man puts into his field and then see it being burnt, it's not easy," Asher said.
He then suggested an alternative to what he defined as the persecution of the ganja farmers. "I believe the authorities should provide an alternative crop if they have a problem with the ganja. The farmers would be willing to adapt to something else once it brought in an income that made sense. It's all about supporting their families for these people. Any man who can feed his family is a comfortable man," Asher said.
Asher was born and grew up at Enterprise Street, Chaguanas, where he still lives today. He said he has been singing for as long as he can remember, starting as a member of the Mount Ararat Spiritual Baptist Church Choir in Chaguanas. He embraced the Rastafarian faith as a teen, having been drawn to it by certain things he read in the Bible. He said he has always loved reggae music and cites Bob Marley, Dennis Brown and Barrington Levy as his main mentors.
A joiner as well as a mason by trade, Asher was forced to give up those professions after he developed an allergy to sawdust. He also lost his left index finger when it was cut off while using a table saw. Roughly four years ago, Asher began performing regularly on the local underground circuit as well as the many conscious reggae dances held around the country.
Today music is Asher's major source of income. He plays the tenor pan and in fact arranges for the New Age Trendsetters Steel Orchestra alongside his father, Glenford Sobers, the band's leader. Asher does not write down his songs when he composes them, but memorises the lyrics, just as chart-topping North American hip-hop artiste, Guerilla Black does. "I compose and sing from the heart, so whatever comes out is natural and I don't have to write it down. I don't change my lyrics once they are set, I remember them," Asher said.
Asher said he is aware that even children are singing his song, but made it clear that he does not in any way advocate that children and youths should smoke marijuana. He further explained that smoking marijuana is not for everyone because there are risks. Asher also said that he does not intend for the song to promote violence against police or anyone for that matter and that the reference to the use of a rocket launcher to blow the police helicopter out of the sky is a metaphor to illustrate the anger a farmer feels when he sees his crops being destroyed.
"Herb is not for everyone. It have people who will smoke and trip. My music is not about promoting hate and violence, it's about uplifting people. I may not be able to change the world, but I can lead people into thinking differently about life and living with each other. Also, the lyrics in the song that tell about the rocket launcher, does not mean that people should kill police. I am showing the anger that a farmer has inside when he sees his field being burnt. That anger and frustration is real," Asher said.
Asher is preparing for several upcoming trips to New York, England and several Caribbean islands where the song has also created an impact. "Ganja Planter" is his first recording and was done two years ago. Although it only hit the radio stations roughly a month ago the song had been circulating within the reggae underground.
Asher has just released another single entitled "I Love You", which is taking some time to pick up. He will soon release a track called, "Love In Need", which is a cover of a Stevie Wonder song. Together with his executive producer, Carl "Beaver" Henderson, Asher is currently putting finishing touches to his debut CD collection. Incidentally, Henderson has had a hand in most of the locally produced non calypso/soca songs that have become classics over the past three decades including the evergreen ballad "Fool In Love" and anti-drug anthem "White Horse".
