Copeland Forbes shares memories of Peter Tosh 1983 Swaziland concert

For two nights in December 1983, militant, anti-establishment reggae singer Winston Hubert McIntosh, better known as Peter Tosh, played for a crowd of more than 25,000 at the Somhlolo National Stadium in Swaziland, Africa. Steel Pulse opened the show.

On what would have been the 79th birthday of reggae’s Steppin’ Razor, his former manager, Copeland Forbes, shared some of the details of the concert that he was instrumental in organising for Swaziland, which has since been renamed Eswatini.

“We had done a show in Australia, and some South Africans who were living there had an entertainment company called Africa Vibrations ... they wanted us to perform in their country. But Peter was not going to South Africa because of what had been done to him by a journalist. He was asked if he would ever perform in South Africa ... which at that time had the hated apartheid regime ... and Peter said, ‘Yes, only if I am playing for my people.’ The reporter run with a headline that said Peter Tosh agrees to perform in South Africa,” recalled Forbes, a respected tour and artiste manager, who has recorded some of the events in his book, Reggae My Life Is.

He shared how it was a logistics challenge to get to Swaziland, because Tosh was adamant that he wasn’t travelling through South Africa, its neighbour.

“We flew from Kingston to London, to Germany, to Zimbabwe. The promoter then chartered a plane to take us to Swaziland. Flying commercial, we would have to go through South Africa to reach Swaziland. It was still the period of apartheid; Nelson Mandela was still in prison. Peter had refused many offers to perform in South Africa and he was afraid to even have a connecting flight through the racist nation, as he knew that someone could take his picture at the airport and use it for propaganda purposes,” Forbes explained, noting that it was Tosh’s first concert performance in the Motherland.

He recalled that throngs of people came from South Africa and adjoining territories to attend the shows, and at some point the security in Swaziland closed the borders owing to the large numbers of people entering. On the Saturday night, Tosh made a bold statement by telling the promoters over the mic, during his performance, that they should open the gates and allow everyone on the outside to enter without charge.

“ There were about 5,000 people outside wanting to see the show but could not afford the entrance fee. I was stunned. How could Peter have made such a declaration? He had been contracted to perform at a paid event. His fees had already been sent to an escrow account. He had no right to determine what the promoters should charge. Peter was concerned that people had travelled many miles to see him, he felt that it was not right for them to be turned away because they could not afford the entry fee. Yet, Peter gave no indication that he would be willing to waive his fees. Clearly, Peter wanted to engage in an act of charity, but not at his own expense. When the fans outside the stadium heard Peter’s pronouncement, they broke down the walls and gates to gain entry. Thousands poured into the stadium without paying. Many ran with their fists raised straight towards the VIP area in front of the stage. The security could not restrain them,” Forbes writes in his book.

The promoter was furious and threatened to put a hold on the funds that had already been wired to Tosh, but Forbes explained that, with the show on Sunday being so successful, the promoter let them off with a warning.

“There is so much more to be said, but that was one of the most memorable journeys with Peter, for a lot of reasons. May his soul rest in peace,” Forbes said.

Tosh was born on October 19, 1944. Among the events being held to commemorate his birthday are the reopening of the museum at Pulse Centre and the unveiling of the Order of Companions awarded to Tosh by the Government of South Africa; and the free Peter Tosh Symposium at the Multi-Functional Lecture Room on the Mona campus of The University of the West Indies.

Peter Tosh, Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer comprised The Wailing Wailers. He subsequently established himself as a successful solo artiste and a promoter of Rastafari. He was murdered in 1987 during a home invasion.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com