Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
( L - R ) I-Nubia, Steppa and Dingo - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Among the drum and bass, bright light and special attire, poetry found a place on all days of bMobile Reggae Sunsplash 2006, held at the Richmond Estate in Priory, St. Ann. The performances took place on the seaside amphitheatre stage, which had limited seating and where the audience got an up-close view of the performers.
Payne was the first poet to perform, coming on Thursday night after Dance Theatre Xpressions had finished. Working in tandem with a drummer, Payne advised "work is worship/by I duties I receive my duties" and demanded "den yu mek faith a lead yu?/Remember blin' cyaan lead blin'". Long locks swinging as he bounced to the beat, Payne moved into his second poem without much pause, stating his regal position with "I a trod as a lion/every step I step I a step pon Rome" as well as his fortitude with "yeah though I trod through this valley, I will fear no steep hill".
Stirring the audience
It was his final poem, though, which stirred the audience most, the ladies feeling no pain when Payne turned to male-female matters and said "when we collide you bruck fus'" to cheers.
Steppa's voice boomed as he announced "bun a man an' bun extortion/likewise me red abortion/illegal extraction" and when he said "bun a gal whe a bleach out har colour of creation" the cheers went up from the amphitheatre and Steppa started again from the top. On his second poem, when he demanded of a girl "mek me see yu TRN, ID birth paper" again the crowd erupted.
On the second night of bMobile Reggae Sunsplash 2006, Dingo spoke of Peaches, who had a "blouse an' skirt vibe", his only poem among some lyrically strong songs, dropping lines such as "put yu tongue in me ears, nearly blow me mind". He ended on a singing note, congratulating the lady who "put a stan' pon John who a look bush like a him name Saddam".
Verbal barbs
After Junior Kelly had wrapped up on the main stage with Receive, I-Nubia was up at the amphitheatre, "standing here in limbo, trying to Imancipate I mind". She threw verbal barbs at the 'poluticians' who "inna Kings House and Gordon House a nyam meal deal" and advised "rise up/get up offa yu silk sheet/it is blood in the street".
"De las' one me have a fi de company an' sponsor whe no stop use de woman dem," I-Nubia said, demanding "a who a pimp de woman dem" in the piece. When she asked "people, you a feel me?" there was a collective 'yes' in reply.
And Mutabaruka slipped briefly out of his MC role on the ampitheatre stage to deliver "gimme me dis, gimme dat, gimme back me everyting yu got".
