BOBIE-LEE DIXON
(bobie-lee.dixon@guardian.co.tt)
Fans of Grammy Award-winning reggae artiste, Buju Banton, will have to wait to see him in the flesh at the I Am Legend concert, carded for Easter Sunday in T&T on April 21, 2019. But today they got an early taste of what to expect with a motorcade put on by High Frequency Entertainment LLC, in honour of the ‘Mr Mention’ singer’s release on Friday from a federal prison in Florida.
The parade route, which began at the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah, and trailed the streets of Frederick and Henry, up to Woodbrook and back to the savannah, saw scores of fans join along as it moved. They sang along to Banton’s hits like Police and Rude Boy Cannot Be Friends, Not an Easy Road, Give I Strength and Go If You Want, among others. Some donned the ice green and gold colours, akin to Rastafarian wear—also significant to Banton’s beliefs, while others waved their rags, and miniature T&T and Jamaican flags.
A deejay shouts from atop one of the two massive music trucks blasting Banton’s best, “If yuh have a dread, shake it right now!” as it approaches Frederick and Queen Streets corner. His instruction is well obeyed.
Guardian Media also caught a seemingly ardent fan locking up her store on Henry Street and sending her staff out to join the parade.
On November 7, 2018, Banton, born Mark Myrie, was released from prison after serving a ten-year sentence, convicted on drug charges in 2009. He walked a free man on Friday from Georgia's private McMcRae Correctional Institute.
A bespectacled mature looking Banton, dressed in a pair of blue jeans, brown timberlands, and white sweater completed with a white crochet hat, hiding his locks, is seen in videos circulating on social media, stopping to greet workers and fans at the Norman Manley International Airport, in his homeland, as they scream his name. “Ah Buju, me say,” shouts a fan repeatedly.
High Frequency Entertainment LLC, CEO and director, Glenroy Watson, in an interview prior to the motorcade’s start, told Guardian media he had been planning the concert since Banton’s incarceration. He said today was a “happy day” for fans of Banton all over, and Banton’s billed performance in 2019 had reminiscent significance as he (Banton) was part of the first I Am Legend concert, which started almost a decade ago. Of the anticipation of the concert, Watson said people could expect nothing less than “spectacular”.
“Buju is very excited to be in Trinidad once more. He knows his base in Trinidad is still strong, hence the reason we’re having this celebration today.”
He said the motorcade was a demonstration of Banton’s fans “being happy that he’s out.” “I’m happy that he’s out," he said.
Friend, mentor, and composer of some of Banton’s most infectious offerings, Richie Rueben, said T&T has always been good to them over the years, so the decision was taken to have Banton back in T&T one more time.
“He is also a son of Trinidad, not only Jamaica. It’s all love and it’s a joyful day when I see meh brethren come off ah di plane, scene (understand). So we just ah celebrate this moment and not think of us as Trinidadians or Jamaicans, but just think of us as one,” said Reuben in his Jamaican twang.