Protoje is one of the most influential voices of his generation and a leading figure in Jamaica’s Reggae Revival movement. Blending roots reggae with modern sounds, his music explores themes of freedom, consciousness, identity, and personal growth. Through powerful lyrics and an unmistakable style, Protoje has established himself as an internationally acclaimed artist whose work inspires reflection and meaningful conversation.
The Art of Acceptance
Mia: Your album is called “The Art of Acceptance”. What did you have to accept about yourself in order to create this body of work?
Protoje: I would say the discomfort of looking within yourselves, stop resisting certain truths in life, and just really embracing the parts of yourself you might want to hide.
Mia: You spoke about acceptance and forgiveness as two lessons life has taught you. If you could send just one sentence to the Protoje of 10 years ago, one that might have spared him some of his suffering, what would it be?
Protoje: It’s weird because I don’t want to change my journey, but for the sake of answering your question, I would be talking about patience and just being more empathetic and understanding toward others, and always focus on the gratitude for what you have. I think those things would have helped ease the suffering a little. But out of the suffering came many great things, so I also accept that it was part of my journey.
Mia: Many people believe freedom means doing whatever you want. What does it truly mean to be a free human being in today’s world and what are the invisible chains that keep most people from experiencing that freedom?
Protoje: I think a very upfront one – not too deep and an obvious one – is the perception of others. You might go out, hear music, and want to dance, but you don’t because you’re wondering, „What will people think?” or „How will people see me?” You know it could be recorded, end up online, and then it could be this or it could be that. It’s a simple example, but sometimes I like to talk about the things that affect our everyday lives.
Obviously, there are more serious burning philosophical questions and ideas both in everyday life that can gradually tear and break away from you little by little. and worrying about how you’re perceived can make you retreat into a shell instead of expressing yourself.
That to me is a lot of freedom because of global political issues and stuff that affects your freedom in different ways. Even if the world was perfect and all the governments of the world were working together in absolute harmony, you still internally are feeling like a cage within your own mind and people’s expectations and stuff. All the freedom in the world and politics won’t do you any good because you’ll still be trapped within the confines of your room or your house or your city or your country or however big the cage.
Mia: If one day you lost your voice and could never make music again what do you think your purpose would become?
Protoje: I think one of my main purposes is taking care of my children, taking care of my daughter, taking care of my family. I think in terms of purpose and interest may be different. Purpose is a very deep word. If I couldn’t sing music, I could always make music and always produce, I could write short stories, I could create in some way. For me, it is just living a meaningful life, being around my family and then, once I have that, then I will find something purposeful to do with my overtime.
Mia: What is your soul hungry for at this stage of your journey?
Protoje: I think just calm, time to spend away from the regular case of being an artist and going on tour, being busy all the time. I would like some time for myself and time for my family and just the ability to do shows and to do things only when I want to do it.
Mia: What brings you a sense of peace that success never could?
Protoje: All the questions you’re asking me just brings me to how I was raised by my parents, the fact that they never put a lot of meaning into the success of something. It was always the effort. So while success gives you gratification or whatever, for me it’s always been about the effort that I put in, the dedication and the discipline. So for me it’s the art that gives me the peace and doing that I know that I’ve been doing the best that I can and I’m giving my all. That is where my peace comes from creatively as opposed to the success because that is controlled by a man and man’s opinion. For me this means I can’t put my peace in the hands of other people.
Mia: When you get quiet and listen deeply, what is your heart trying to tell you right now?
Protoje: Be still, be observant, be grateful. Yeah, just those things, to be honest.
Mia: If you could leave one piece of wisdom for future generations, what would you whisper to them?
Protoje: What you refuse to confront within yourself becomes like a shadow. Until you embrace and integrate that part of you in full consciousness, it’s going to control. So, yeah, that’s something for them to figure out.
Mia: Imagine you’re walking through a crowded street and for a brief moment you recognize God among the people smiling at you. How would you respond? What would you want to say?
Protoje: Haha, where do you get these questions from?
Mia: This is my favorite question. I speak from the heart!
Protoje: I have to think. Let me think. This is where I have to be still and think. I don’t want to just answer. How do I know it’s God?
Mia: You just know. You just feel it. God will show you.
Protoje: I’ll ask: “Are you pleased with the life that I have lived?”
Mia: Thank you so much, Protoje, and I’m waiting for a concert in Romania.
Protoje: Thank you! I’ll see you in Romania. Take care! Thanks for the thoughtful, insightful questions.
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FOTO: Girma „Box” Berta
