Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
Lutan Fyah performing at Lady Saw's birthday bash, 'Celebrity Walkout', in Nain, St. Elizabeth, early Sunday morning. The artiste, who recently released his fourth album, 'Phantom War', has a passion for restoring peace to the Old Capital. - PHOTO BY NATHANIEL STEWART
SINGER LUTAN Fyah remembers spinning records as a youth on his grandfather's Black Iniverse sound system in Spanish Town. He was struck by the presence of big-name dancehall acts like Papa San and Lieutenant Stitchie who passed through their Thompson Pen home.
Back then, dub plates, not gunshots, created the biggest bang in the Old Capital. Things have changed, and not to the Rastafarian vocalist's liking.
"Well, mi latest album is called Phantom War an' mi really a talk 'bout the youth dem inna Spanish Town who jus' a fight fi nothing at all," he said in an interview with The Gleaner last week.
ROOTS IN THOMPSON PEN
Although he grew up in Portmore, Lutan (given name Anthony Martin) has roots in Thompson Pen, one of several pockets in Spanish Town that has been gripped by gang warfare which first erupted four years ago.
Spanish Town, located in the St. Catherine North Police Division, is one of the most violent areas in Jamaica. Police say approximately 223 persons were murdered there in 2005. Over 50 homicides have been committed there this year.
Lutan, 30, currently lives in Clarendon, but says he visits Thompson Pen almost daily. It is a far cry from the peaceful community he knew as a child.
"Spanish Town is a kinda garrison wey every man is a suspect, and to keep yuhself with the vibes yuh haffi walk a chalkline," he said.
INSPIRATION
The violence that has scarred St. Catherine's chief town inspired Lutan to write the song, There Is No Peace In Spanish Town, two years ago. Along with follow-up numbers like Rasta Still Deh 'Bout, it turned out to be the former football player and would-be architect's breakout hit.
He played in the Manning Cup for St. Andrew Technical High School in the mid-1990s, and later ran out in the National Premier League for Hazard United (now Portmore United) and Constant Spring. He also turned out for De La Vega City in the St. Catherine domestic season.
With three CXC subjects to his credit, as well as passes in building, planning and woodwork, he also had ambitions of being an architect.
But there was always music which moulded with the Rastafarian faith Lutan first embraced as a teenager.
HIS CALLING
"Me'd haffi do the music 'cause is a calling. "Mi used to play the football 'cause wi did have the energy," he said.
He believes similar impetus by authorities in Spanish Town will bring stability to a place where members of his family still call home.
"Mi think the policing inna Spanish Town need fi straighten up, but lately things change 'cause dem get a new man (Superintendent Harry Daley) wha' Spanish Town people know," he said. "Mi feel sey him will employ some new things, so the youth dem can come in an' hold a joy."
Phantom War is Lutan Fyah's fourth album. It was released in May by the London-based independent record company, Greensleeves Records.
Taken from The Daily Gleaner, Tuesday July 18, 2006
