Ziggy’s albums “One Bright Day” (1987) and “Conscious Party” (1989) were huge smashes on the reggae charts, earning him “next big thing” status and even Grammy awards. For his band, the Melody Makers, Ziggy recruited the services of reggae guitar legend Earl “Chinna” Smith, some of his siblings, and members of an Ethiopian group called Dallol.

In 1992, after parting ways with Ziggy Marley, Dallol members Ruphael Mariam and Asrat Selassie recruited two players from the Caribbean island of Dominica and formed Gizzae, hoping to establish a world-class reggae band and challenge the prevailing current Jamaican style, dancehall, which it regards as less powerful than traditional “roots reggae.” Gizzae’s goal from the beginning has been to bring reggae and Rastafarianism to the masses.

Gizzae performs on Saturday at Simeri’s Old Town Tap in South Bend.

Ras Tafari Makonnen was the birth name of emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia before he ascended the throne in 1930. Although he maintained that he was merely a man, a new religion was born when he came to power. A product of biblical and folk prophecies, it predicted a righteous revolution, in which African and other oppressed peoples would come to power, overthrowing “Babylon,” or corrupt, industrialized Western culture. Selassie was worshipped as the religion’s god.

Bob Marley was the most famous champion of Rastafarianism, and since his death, many others have sought to keep the practices alive. A deeply spiritual and political religion, Rastafarianism calls for a strict diet, the use of marijuana (“ganja”) as a sacrament, and the continual praise of their god, called Jah after “Jehovah.”

The current music of Gizzae is intended to reflect suffering, happiness, and thanks and praise for Jah.

“The way the music affects people and knowing that I’m helping create that is such a rush,” Mariam says. “There’s too much slack in the current music scene and not enough awareness. Too much talk about sex, as if there’s nothing else to write about.”

Dave Alert has seen the band in concert many times and praises Gizzae’s integrity and versatility. Alert founded WSND-FM’s “Reggae Street” radio program 22 years ago, and although he did not book the current show at Simeri’s, he is the driving promotional force behind most of Michiana’s reggae events, called “Reggae Alerts.” Alert says that Gizzae can perform several styles of reggae at the highest level.

“They can appeal to everybody. From their original compositions to covers of reggae bands like England’s Black Slate and Aswad, or even R & B songs like (The Persuaders’) ‘The Thin Line Between Love and Hate,’ they have a full sound,” Alert says. “They can even do some of the dancehall stuff. And they know how to read a crowd. Their guitarist, Clem Julien, can go off and play some wicked lines like Jimi Hendrix when the band starts jamming away.”

Reggae’s many forms are often named after their beats, or “riddims.” Riddims with names like “Lovers’ Rock” and “One Drop” are crucial in the band’s sound, and they also incorporate influences from their respective homelands. Occasionally the lyrics are in the Ethiopian language Amharic. Indeed, the word “gizzae” means “time” in Amharic.

Members of the group also are proprietors of a club called the Wild Hare on Clark Street in Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood, and Gizzae’s frequent performances after Cubs home games are popular with fans celebrating victories or cheering themselves up after losses.
(Photo courtesy of Tim Owen)