By Mel Cooke, Freelance WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
IT WAS appropriate that although earlier showers kept the regular audience away, 'Unchained' kept going for the few who turned up at the LoJ Auditorium in New Kingston Sunday evening.
After all, the people that the every first Sunday series assists have to turn up at their venue, rain or shine, every day.
Proceeds from 'Unchained' go to Project 180, a rehabilitation programme for incarcerated persons.
However, although the rain did not stop the event from proceeding, it did contribute to that most Jamaican of occurrences a late start.
SHORTENED SHOW
Kevin Wallen outlined a shortened show just before the 9:00 p.m. start, indicating that the artistes would perform shortened sets in a jam format and the real thing would be staged the first Sunday evening in October same venue, same line-up.
The near 40 minutes of music which followed was more than enough to make a 30-day wait and return for the full-length presentation worthwhile, as headliners Yogie and Lenn Hammond, along with Bryhan, all from the FiWi Music outfit, put on a lovers' rock session that had people rocking, screaming and even leaping from their seats. In addition, deejay Fantazle from the Ready Fi Bus Crew and show openers Radic and Jaheem did justice to the musicianship of the Katalyst band.
However, when Yogie had departed with I Go Crazy and Lenn Hammond followed suit with Mixed Up Moods, the show was not over, as Wallen invited 'Richie' to put down his video camera and take the microphone not to perform, but to testify. It turned out that he was once behind bars and got involved in Project 180 during his time in prison.
"Prison is not a nice place. You may wonder why so many people go there and keep going there," he said.
Speaking of his experiences, Richie said "I see 23 people die over a three-day period. It is a ting to be in one place and people dying around you and you can't move," he said.
"Believe it or not, there are many people behind bars who are talented in many areas, craft- you name it," he said.
Saying that he realised from very early on that to survive his prison experience he had to work on his mind, Richie said, "This programme that goes on (the 'Unchained' series) is very important. Your dollar goes a far way. There are many people in the prisons benefiting from this programme."
TESTIMONY
The testimony came from the other side of the cell bars as well, as 'Mr. Fergie', a warder from the South Camp Road correctional facility, was invited to speak as well. "Kevin's presence in the institution has helped a lot. He has these guys seeing themselves as productive people and brothers top one another. He emphasises togetherness," the warder said.
Indicating how effective Project 180 is, Mr. Fergie said that while the Government-run programme in the institution has 24 participants, "Kevin has 40 plus."
"It just goes to show the effectiveness," he said.
Kevin Wallen explained that Project 180 was started four years ago, with the 'Unchained' series of concerts beginning last December. So far, Abijah, Warrior King, George Nooks, Luciano and Ken Boothe have been among the more recognised artistes to have appeared on the show.
From the proceeds, seven computers have been donated to the South Camp Road facility, with "enough education software to take them from kindergarten to university."
"My basic idea is that a man go into prison, we want to see him come out better," Mr. Wallen said.
