Gert-Jan Smit

Dear Mr. Belafonte, may I say dear Harry?

I never had the good fortune to talk to you much in person, but I’ll never forget the times I came close.

Do you know who I am, do you I know, who you are.  See we one another clearly, do we know who we are?        

In 1991, The Netherlands: When you started singing “Day O” I walked to the stage with a 2-meter long inflatable banana. The band stopped playing, you turned to me and asked me for my name.
1998, The Netherlands: You bumped into me outside the concert hall. My wife realized; “That man, that man is Harry Belafonte, for sure!”  I ran after you:  “Mr. Belafonte, Mr. Belafonte, see you tonight!” You turned to me, and with that big famous smile and twinkle in your eyes said:  “Yeah, see you tonight”. 

2003 in The Hague:  Our 8-year-old son Daan was really fond of your music too.  At the end of the concert, I lifted him onto the stage. You patted him on the head and he gave you a word puzzle he made out of the titles of your songs and a note explaining his actions.  Three months later Daan received an envelope from the United States with a signed photo “Dear Daan, thank you for the wonderful puzzle. Love and Peace, Harry”.

We are from the Spirit, truly of the Spirit, only can the Spirit. Turn The World Around   

I was 8 years old when I heard you on Dutch radio. I was completely mesmerized. This was the energy I knew from West Africa where I was born and where I spent my early childhood. I bought the 2-LP The Best of Harry Belafonte out of my pocket money; an empty bank account, but a filled heart.

I loved the music and the voice. I was surprised by the diversity of styles and moods. Although I didn’t understand the words, one song, in particular, intrigued me: “Swing That Hammer.”  After I was told what the song was about, the activist in me saw the light: this is completely unacceptable and the world should know about it.

Of course I felt excitement when I handed the inflatable banana to you. But far beyond that, I experienced a strong and deep connection with force, warmth, dignity, confidence, joy and oneness I’ve never encountered before. I suppose I experienced glimpses of the Truth about who we are in essence and how life should and could be for all of us.

 Merci Bon Dieu 

Thank you for your inspiration and for encouraging me to commit myself to create freedom, justice and peace for all of us. 

From the bottom of my Heart May you celebrate your birthday and the rest of your life in the way you desire.   

Merci Bon Mr. B.,  I love you.

~ Gert-Jan, The Netherlands, Early 2022.