“A people need an identity to carry them on. Identify yourself in your culture. Everybody ought to know. You can never hide from where you belong; even the scriptures tell you so. A people without a culture are like sheep that’s gone astray. Identify yourself with your culture. Let’s live the African way.”
That is the first verse of one of Eze Rockcliffe’s many Afro-centric songs which he made during his 44 years as a Guyanese artiste. Throughout his personal life and musical career, Rockcliffe maintained strong ties to his African roots, so much so that he named his band after an African tribe, fathered many children as traditional Africans men use to, gave them all African names and married the women of his dreams in African style.
His name “Eze” is an African name meaning King. Rockcliffe is a modern day embodiment of African tradition. Often seen adorned with rich African print, Rockcliffe is known to many as a“roots man.”
During an exclusive interview with Guyana Inc., Rockcliffe boasted of the African moralistic traditions that he has passed down to his offspring. He said that he is proud of what they all turned out to be. He is the proud father of Ato, a sociologist; Abena, a journalist; two hair dressers (Tchaiko and Amanata); Onica, a nurse; Walvin, an electrician; Niambi, a member of the American navy; Zawdie, a psychologist; Pamoja, a child care professional; Ayana, a manager; Atiba, a construction worker; and Shaunta who is completing her Master of Arts degree in Music.Rockcliffe said that only two of his children still reside in Guyana, but he speaks to the others on a weekly basis and is always there for them when needed.
“Africans are taught to honour their parents and elders generally. I have taught my children that; that teaching is one of the many that stuck,” he added, “and of course you know a father’s job never ends.”
Rockcliffe’s band – the Yoruba Singers – has been around for over 44 years. He told Guyana Inc. that he chose the name “Yoruba” because that is a tribe that travelled a lot, and in the early days so do did his band. He noted that the Yoruba tribe has other cultures that he admired. Rockcliffe, by himself and with his band, recorded many songs including “Long Grass”, “Adela Doo”, “Janey Gal”, “Crekateh”, “Massacura Man”, “Black Pepper”, “Neighbour Jean”, “Tell It Like It Is”, “No Intention”, “Bleeding With Hate” and “Drums”.
Some of the ‘King’s’ songs reflect on the days of slavery, some pay tribute to the lives of Afro-Guyanese who lived in the days just after slavery was abolished, while others highlight African beliefs and folklores. “Tell It Like It Is” one of his songs that serves as cultural awareness for young Afro-Guyanese who seem to lose track of their heritage.
He said, “Knowing your history is priority to guide us and give us strength. We made our mark in the universe. Yes, we contribute to world events. What about the pyramids of Egypt, the discovery of the alphabet we made, physics and math? Yes. We did all that – blood transfusion so more people can live.”
Rockcliffe represented Guyana on the international stage with performances in Cuba, Canada, Brazil, and at the famous Madison Square Garden in the United States of America.
His band, the longest surviving band in Guyana, performed at over 20 Emancipation celebrations in the National Park. He said it was always an honour to contribute to the preservation of African culture in that way.
Married as an African king
Rockcliffe was not one who subscribed to marriage in his early years as he identified with being “polygamous” as was African kings of history. Of course in the olden days – and now in certain parts of Africa – African men were allowed to have more than one wife. Since Guyana did not permit such, Rockcliffe preferred to avoid marriage.
But in 2000, at his 50th birthday celebration, he announced that he was ready to tie the proverbial knot with Joycelyn, a woman who had borne two of his 13 children.
Of course Rockcliffe had to get married the way that has become conventional in order to make his marriage legal. But two weeks after that wedding, Rockcliffe exchanged vows with his wife African style. Adorned in their African prints, Rockcliffe and his wife Joycelyn (of mixed heritage) took African vows.
The wedding was nothing short of traditional: it featured African food like conkie, pone, cook-up rice; African beverages like swank better known as lime drink, ginger beer and mauby; and African music both recorded and live. The drums were of course featured. As part of the ceremonial proceedings, the couple had to taste corolla, honey, salt and drink water in representation of the different seasons in a marriage.
Religion
Despite the fact that Rockcliffe accepts Christianity and Christ as his saviour, he clings more to what was recorded in the old testament of the Bible and rejects certain biblical teachings that were used to promote slavery. He also believes that his ancestors can “blow good breeze” on him, meaning that they can allow good things to happen for him.
Asked about the preservation of African culture in Guyana, he responded, “Much more needs to be done.” As it relates to the uplifting of the African race, the “King” said, “Black people have to move towards a revolution that screams out for unity (because) that is the only way we can become truly free (mentally).” He added that disunity was part of a “direct plot” of slave masters who “succeeded in bringing us down.”
He believes that the only way people of African descent can truly return to their former glory or attain a future that reflects the glorious past before slavery showed its “ugly face”, is to unite as a people. “Not in a way that discredits other races, but in a way that allows blacks to credit, compliment and complement each other,” he explained.
