Fiji YCW leader, Freddy Fesaitu, recently revived his 1980s reggae band, Rootstrata.
Founded with YCW members from the Raiwaqa neighbourhood in Suva, the group made a strong impact during its time.
“Back in the late 1980s, Rootstrata was ahead of its time with hard hitting songs that encapsulated the feelings of unemployed and dejected youths looking for a way out of their predicament in the notorious suburbs of Raiwai and Raiwaqa,” wrote Ernest Heatley at the Fiji Times.
The lyrics of the group’s hit song, People of the world unite, shows strong YCW – and Bob Marley – influence.
“Your life is worth more than all the gold,” Freddy sings in a phrase that echoes Cardijn’s famous axiom that “every young worker is worth more than all the gold in the world.”
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Rootstrata (Fiji Lyrics)
Rootstrata revival (Fiji Times)
Freddy roots for Jesus (Rotuma.net)