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EBONY: What does the legacy and spirit of Harlem imply to you?
Estelle: Coming to America from London, you hear about Harlem because the birthplace of all these totally different unbelievable artists. To me, it was the hub for the second coming of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma; it was a website of Black business. There are plenty of deep roots in Harlem, and it is the place plenty of Black American achievements got here from, whereas being actually consultant of New York. To have that culminate with the pageant in 2023 as a reminder to of us on the East Coast concerning the greatness that was began right here— that is the place the cultural Mecca is— is gorgeous.
Wayne Marvel: For me, rising up in Jamaica, it was all the time inspiring to listen to concerning the motion pictures and artists based mostly in Harlem. As a child, you’d wish to enterprise there for your self and really feel that vitality. I simply needed to be part of such an incredible motion of artistry that has been discovered there, from graffiti artists to musicians. Harlem’s existence is a wealthy blessing.
In a time when of us are searching for to erase collective Black tradition and historical past, why is it mandatory for us to uplift it?
Estelle: If we do not maintain telling the story, then it will get erased. We should maintain reminding folks precisely who we’re, particularly because the lawmakers proceed to erase Black historical past. It is an honor to proceed to strengthen our historical past into the tradition at each single second. The world is right here, and Black of us throughout the diaspora have contributed a lot to it.
Wayne Marvel: The roots of our historical past cannot be lined up. Bob Marley stated, “The reality is an offense however not a sin,” and it is true. Some folks cannot abdomen the fact. They wish to usher in legal guidelines now to limit finding out sure issues in Black historical past. What are they hiding? To ensure that the reality to rule, we have now to be on the forefront. We all know the crimes which have been dedicated. These in energy do not wish to see themselves mirrored in our historical past, however it’s the reality. So we have to come collectively as a folks and simply rejoice with occasions like Harlem Competition of Tradition and present them our power.
How excited are you to be bringing the “Dancehall LinkUp” to the Harlem Competition of Tradition?
Estelle: Once I got here to the U.S. for the primary few occasions in early 1998, I went to Harlem and I discovered Senegal. I discovered Jamaica, Grenada and Trinidad, too. I used to be so blissful to have the ability to get the meals, get my hair finished and listen to the accents. I felt like I used to be dwelling in Brixton and West London and cherished seeing my Grenadian, Senegalese and Caribbean roots. So by means of the Hyperlink Up, we wish to deliver a style of dwelling to Harlem. On the world stage, we have now reggae, dancehall and Afrobeats represented, and we wish to deliver it to the Harlem Competition of Tradition in the fitting method.
Wayne Marvel: Music itself is sort of a report—it retains spinning and evolving. It’s a portfolio that may be remade and shares so many similarities, particularly throughout the African Diaspora. We’re one, and we’re the identical folks wherever we go. We’ve got totally different experiences with totally different accents however are nonetheless related. Someplace, somebody ate porridge and any individual else ate grits, however we share an identical actuality and replicate it throughout the music from Reggae to Dancehall to Amapiano to Hip Hop. With the LinkUp taking place on the Harlem Competition of Tradition, we wish folks to resonate with the sounds and have enjoyable.
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