Christopher 'DJ Nana' Robinson. - Contributed

Andre Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

The first time Christopher 'DJ Nana' Robinson performed onstage he might as well have been booed.

It was at a conventional church concert in Portmore, St. Catherine, where quite a few members of the congregation walked out because of his style. This was in 1998 when gospel reggae was not as popular and most churches were frowning on it.

"I prayed to God and asked him what my talent was, and he told me this was my gift. At the concert people made remarks I wasn't expecting," DJ Nana said.

Remained on course

Still, he remained on course with gospel reggae because he got the answer from above. Even today gospel reggae does not sit well with many people, but it has been making strides. But according to DJ Nana, he will not change his style and the conventional Christian gatherings are not able to contain him and the message.

He is no longer labelling what he does as simply gospel reggae, but terms it dancehall gospel. That takes on a different ton but he wants to perform on all the major secular shows, so instead of jumping to the lyrics of a Beenie Man or Bounty Killer at Sting, Sunsplash or Sumfest, Jamaicans will be fixated on the drenching gospel.

DJ Nana is not making any lofty plans. His mission is simple, but the task is going to require much intervention from above. This has not stopped him from believing in a totally revolutionised Jamaica.

Christ is in the vessel

"I am not doing this for the money but to win souls for Christ. The road is going to be rough, but once Christ is in the vessel I can smile at the storm," DJ Nana said.

DJ Nana can probably take credit for some of the souls won at Fun in the Son two weeks ago. Along with back-to-back performances on Fun in the Son, he has also performed at Cross Over in St. Ann and in churches. Nana is now concentrating on his unnamed debut album, which he wants to release later this year.

This is all a part of living up to the name given to him by his football colleagues. Nana, according to the artiste, means 'the grace of God' or to 'preach the word'.

He describeshimself as a "spiritual man of God, family-orientated individual who loves to reason with people, who is laid-back and fun to be around".