Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Bounty Killer performs at the launch of Reggae Campfire 2005, held at the Kabana Restaurant and Garden Bar just above Half-Way Tree on Thursday. - FILE
THURSDAY EVENING'S prelude to Reggae Campfire 2005, held at the Kabana Restaurant and Garden Bar just above Half-Way Tree, had fiery indications of what the New Year's Eve concert will be like.
The show will be held at the Windalco Sports Club in Ewarton, St. Catherine, with Capleton, Sizzla, Beres Hammond and Bounty Killer among the performers.
"Camp Fire has come together to present a family event. You can bring yu pickney, you can bring your granny," Denise Miller, host of the Thurdsay's presentation, said.
Miss Prendy of Helshire, one of the concert's sponsors, said, "Tonight I want to reach out to all of you, especially the artistes who are reaching the youths, that when we light the candle on New Year's Eve we are putting an end to 2005, with all its bloodshed and violence."
"We ask that when you leave here, you bring peace into your home, your community," she said.
CALL FOR PEACE
And with that, to the music of Carry Your Candle, the glow of lit candles, supplied to all who were present, filled Kabana.
"Make your contract. We can take back our beautiful country Jamaica. We the people can do it," she said.
There was more than a glow, though, from Negril's Wonder Man, who danced with, ate and ran flames blazing on sticks over his body, as the DJ played Capleton chanting "cooyah wide de fire". He blew gushes of fire high into the air and cradled a steady flame in his mouth to light a lady's cigarette.
And there was laughter when he thrust a blazing stick down the front of his pants then invited a lady to do the honours, Wonder Man moving away nimbly as she kept the blaze near delicate parts just a bit too long.
Damali Robertson gave an overview of Reggae Campfire, from its launch three years ago until now, while guest speaker Donna Hope put the concert in wider context, presenting it as part of a movement "locally, regionally and internationally" to present our own Jamaican stories "to people who are interested in being a part of our lives and our very exciting cultural space.".
GOOD SUPPORT
She was impressed with the list of sponsors, especially in light of the stance that some sponsors have taken, and asked the performers "to remember that this is our indigenous family event", describing a "common-law marriage between our African heritage and our dancehall culture."
Hope borrowed the words of the late Gerald 'Bogle' Levy to conclude that "Reggae Campfire out and bad, oh so badly bad".
And to anchor that thought, there were brief performances from Galaxy P, Ronnie Thwaites, Ras Gandhi, MaGowan, Lisa, Bounty Killer, Capleton, QQ and Tony Curtis.
