‘Jamaican Collie’, the French toaster’s ode to marijuana, will be released in late November. It is produced by Maka Lox, a Jamaican musician based in Paris.

“This is a song inspired by Hopeton Lewis’ ‘Cool Collie’. I always wanted to cover that song, so I gave it a deejay kinda vibe,” said Ricky Sai Sai. “It highlights the fact that people from every background in society use it (marijuana) for therapeutic or medicinal reasons.”

‘Jamaican Collie’ is done in English, which is a change from most of his previous songs which are recorded in French. Those songs include ‘Seulement du Rub A Dub’, ‘A Tous Les Rude Boys’ and ‘Qui est Ton Boss’.

The 55 year-old Ricky Sai Sai has visited Jamaica twice — in 1992 and 1993. On his first trip, he was amazed at the free use of ganja (as marijuana is known there) even though smoking it for recreational reasons was illegal.

It was not until late 2015 that steps were taken to decriminalise ganja in Jamaica after years of lobbying by advocates including Rastafarians who use the plant as a religious sacrament.

In France, recreational use of marijuana is illegal. Persons who take it for medicinal purposes have to present a prescription for a product certified by the country’s National Medical Safety Agency.

“People should have the right to grow it, a right to harvest it and to even commercialise it. At least you won’t be bothered by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), law enforcement or special brigades,” said Ricky Sai Sai.

Born in the United Kingdom to French parents, he discovered Jamaican music during the 1980s. His tastes range from roots heroes like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Dennis Brown, to dancehall stars such as Yellowman, Major Worries and Papa San.

Ricky Sai Sai launched his recording career in the late 1990s.

‘Jamaican Collie’ is one of the songs on the ‘Congo General’ rhythm which is produced by Maka Lox’ Ora Ora Ngaru label.

(Photo contributed)