From our men in Jamaica: Sizzla Birth Day Bash (Portmore) & Sturgav Sound (Priory)

Jah Shakespear and Tiny Tim (Bangarang) were at the north coast on April 20, on Priory beach, next to St. Anne's Bay. There, King Sturgav played, with on the mic alternating Charlie Chaplin, Little John (after years of absence) and Little Twitch.  Crisp sound, cool vibes, classic riddims again and again: when Our Men entered the half open building at about one o'clock, it seemed to become a memorable night.  But they didn't count on Babylon!  A little after two a.m. five agents came over to disrupt the party.  Charlie Chaplin was allowed to play one more tune, Little Twitch could go over it for a very short while but then the party was over.  The promoter had dissed a local commissioner someone said.  But the forbearing audience knew better: the 'new' law to fight noise disturbances is applied very strictly under the pressure of churches, action committees, and concerned citizens.  Jamaica will never be the same as before, with street dances and sound systems that go on all night.  For your information, this is a law that was passed in 1998 already.    

On every radio station partygoers were called upon to come early to the promising birthday party of 'president' Sizzla in Portmore near Kingston.  So we rushed to get there by eleven.  Of course there was still almost nobody in the yard of the Royal View Entertainment Center. Only an hour later the show was starting to kick off with a series of upcoming artists.  If the police had come to close this party down at two then it would have been a small disaster because at this time all the big shots still had to pass by.  Luckily for us, Sizzla is a gentleman of importance and the police was nowhere to be seen.

'An incredible line up for only a thousand dollars (being 8 euros)' was the only thing that was said in the radio commercial.  And that was not a lie.  The presenter (Ron Muschette) ran the show very tightly and let every artist know how good they were by telling them beforehand how many songs they could bring. Mostly two, exceptionally three or four.  Passed the revue: Duane Stephenson, Iba Mahr, Turbulance, Lutan Fyah, Rash Shilo (magical!), Saba Tooth, Chico and Mr Easy, I Wayne, Flippa Maffia, Major Mackerel, Lady G, Power Man, Nesbeth, Louis Culture and General B.

And then something magical happened.  Cocoa T was just in the middle of a very good set when Ninjaman entered the stage.  He took Cocoa's mic and challenged him to a good old fashion clash.  The respectful insults flew back and forth. All with that one mic.  Entered the stage all of a sudden: Ghost. My magical moment.  I've known Ghosts music for years and I've always been intrigued by his figure: who is that man with the beautiful high voice? The party exploded when he stole the mic from Ninjaman.  What a voice!  

It must have been five in the morning when the power cable that connected the stage with the electricity mast burned through and all the light and sound was cut off.  Beautiful to see how a new cable was drawn without anyone getting electrocuted!  

Time for Sizzla, then who had had (unlike usual) a boyish grin on his face during the whole evening.  Without hesitation he whirled through his catalogue of hits.  Around six o' clock the police arrived at last with the message that it was almost time to stop and Sizzla quickly called Beenie Man and Popcaan with him on the stage for the grand finale.  

And then it was daytime again, I had survived the night (don't drink too much too soon when you have to stand up for seven hours!), and it was time for breakfast: whole weat patties with fresh ackee.  It was almost time to go to the afternoon beach party in Sugerman Beach.  Those Jamaicans know how to party!