By: Brittany Somerset
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – I arrived in Montego Bay on Thursday, July 19th and after a brief detainment by customs, due to the fact I had been to Peru in the past six weeks and was subsequently suspected of carrying malaria, despite my protests that I had been on anti-malarial medication while visiting Peru, I was directed to go to the Minister of Health’s office. I sat in the Minister’s empty office for 15 minutes, and in true Jamaican fashion was told the minister would “soon come.” After 5 more minutes, the New Yorker in me lost patience and I left the airport after glibly assuring the customs agents, if I started to suffer from malaria-induced hallucinations, I would see the doctor at Half Moon Resort immediately.
Upon arriving at Half Moon and meeting up with colleagues and friends, I immediately prepared myself for “Xplosion”, Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest’s Dancehall Night, arguably the best night of the festival. While big name talent is generally brought in from the United States for international infusion, such as LL Cool J and Mary J. Blige, and such talent is an integral, expected part of the Sumfest bill, it is Dancehall Night that is usually the most spectacular.
It boasted such renowned Jamaican back-a-yard names as self pro-claimed “King of the Dancehall” Beenie Man, who was dressed in a pimp-esque, canary yellow, rhinestone studded suit.
Beenie Man
His arch-rival Bounty Killa (Beenie is married to Bounty’s ex-girlfriend D’Angel) wore a khaki green uniform that resembled a cross between an army major and a New York hotel doorman, and, of course, there was Elephant Man, who is known for his Bozo The Clown-colored, half red, half yellow afro and outlandish costumes.
Elephant man topped the white fringed, overweight Elvis era jumpsuit he wore last year when he took the stage this year dressed as Darth Vader.
Elephant Man
Ninja Man kept true to his moniker and dressed as a ninja. Less outlandishly attired, but by no means diminished in performance, were Munga Honourable, Assassin, Lutan Fyah, Cham, Movado, Vybz Kartel, as well as Voice Mail and Busy Signal. (What is it with dancehall artists and their penchant for optional phone service package names? Who will be next? MC Caller ID and DJ Three Way Calling?)
Not to be outdone by the men of dancehall, Lady Saw delivered a hot performance although her ubiquitous sidekick DJ Missy was noticeably absent this year.
Macka Diamond was attired in bright red pants that matched her equally bright red braids, with a black fedora that matched her black cummerbund. Clearly the fashion was as fierce as the performances.
Macka Diamond
There were unexpected cameos and bizarre performance twists. One of Elephant Man’s female dancers disgraced herself by jumping off the stage into the VIP pit and groveling on the ground with a one-legged man, much to the shock of the audience. After watching this one-legged man attempt to have sex with her with their clothes on, she got up, completely filthy, covered in dirt, and stretched her hand out to Elephant Man to be lifted back onto the stage. Elephant man extended his hand and pulled the one-legged man onto the stage, in favor of the discarded back-up dancer.
Tony Matterhorn also popped up during Elephant Man’s set, while Pressure performed his delightful hit “Love and Affection” during Munga Honourable’s set, and Bounty Killa’s son performed during Bounty’s set.
Bounty Killa & Son
