With His Dreadlocks Touching the Floor, Barbados Soca Star Ras Iley Performs At Retromania 2.

Ras Iley's well kept locks are at least a foot longer than he is.  "This is real years of commitment!" 

That is the seriously dread declaration from Ras Iley, who has the kind of well cared for locks that are just begging for an endorsement deal from natural hair products. 

We love to see the diminutive Rasta man – the self-dubbed Mr Energy, the winner of the 1986 road march, Spring Garden On Fire – on stage as he drags off his tam and shakes his natties in all their glory. It is hardly an action he would risk now, since he stands five foot four and his locks trail past his ankles by at least a foot. 

His hair is now so long, that at times he would wear it around his waist to keep it off the floor, depending on what type of hat he is wearing. 

The Ras, born Darcy Small 42 years ago, has been growing his locks since he left school in 1981. 

"It is a lot of years from the days of The Lodge School. When I was going to school I actually used to brush back my hair, because in those days it was basically like a crime. 

"You were not even allowed to go to school with dreadlocks, and I could remember living the life of Ras from the time of school," Ras reminisced. 

"I had one lock with some ites, green and gold beads. Every day going to school I had to actually hide my lock behind my ear. At that time I used it as a symbol, being involved in the Rastafari movement at a young age. 

"And I have lived to see that in these times – I finished school in 1983, which was the first year I dread up – that from the times when we used to get brutalized for having locks, everybody now has dreads and it is actually now a fad. 

"But for me it is a form of commitment to the Rastafari movement. It is a discipline," he asserts, adding that he became a vegetarian from aged 14. 
For him his hair is not a "show thing". 

"As an entertainer I use my locks because there is always something an entertainer has to use to his advantage and I recognize that because I don't show or advertise my locks regularly, whenever patrons see it, it is an electrifying vibe that I get from the people. 

"I keep it in a sacred form and use it to my advantage at all times. Sometimes in certain forum I take pride in removing my tam, and I use the opportunity to send a signal that this is not only a man who jumps around on stage and makes people happy all year round, but I am a man who has been involved in the Rastafari movement from third form," he revealed. 

Ras Iley's was led to Rastafari in the late 70s, by the powerful messages in the reggae music of Burning Spear, Bob Marley, and Peter Tosh, as well as the life and work of Marcus Garvey. 

These same beliefs greatly influenced his choice of work, and in addition to being an entertainer, he is also a farmer; thus wears a hat every day. 

"I need to let it down after having it in a hat the whole day. I just make sure the house is very clean because it would pick up stuff. 

"But being involved with the land and moving around with other projects, I can't really have it sweeping the ground, so I tend to remove my hat when I'm home, or when I'm on stage performing," he said. 

"There were times when I lost five and six inches off my hair because I literally stepped on them and when I step sudden, they literally pop off." 

Ras Iley confirms he has a strong neck, that is now accustomed to the weight of his hair when it's wet. 

"I know for a fact that in this time my neck is very strong because I am accustomed to the weight of the hair when it is dry. 

"But if when I wash them and they are wet, and I make a mistake and move suddenly, and any of these muscles in my neck are hurt, it is the most grueling pain you could ever encounter. There is no where on the bed to lie to get rid of a serious neck pain. 

"Over the years I have had some serious experiences in washing it. When the water gets into the locks the weight becomes so heavy I cannot move my neck sudden, every thing has to be orchestrated to move," he recounted. 

It takes a full day for Iley's locks to dry completely, but points out that he dries his scalp dry, dabs out the excess water from the length and particularly the ends,
and leaves the rest to nature. And he uses lots of natural hair products for his hair care. 

"I pay a lot of attention to my hair because as an entertainer sometimes you're performing, you go among people and you know people have this notion over the years that Rastas are unclean. 

"But as far as my life is concerned, cleanliness is next to godliness and I always try to groom my hair. For to me it is a symbol of Rastafari, and I try in all ways, as a Rastaman, to make sure I always present myself clean. 

"I take great pride in grooming my hair and I do not allow any and everybody to put their hands in my hair. Apart from my wife, I do most of the grooming myself," he said.  

andreaking @nationnews.com

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