Lincoln 'Sugar' Minott was born on African Liberation Day, May 25 and laid to rest on Emancipation Day, August 1.

It was the Ministry of Culture representative, Syd Bartlett, who highlighted this significant fact as he injected much-needed order to the funeral service for the late reggae/dancehall icon on Sunday at the National Arena in Kingston. Bartlett's call for a moment of silence, followed by a round of applause for Minott and his contribution to the development of reggae and dancehall music, helped to bring some amount of sobriety to what appeared to have been be a service out of control.

Unfortunately, there was a near two-hour delay as mourners waited impatiently for the arrival of the body, which funeral directors, Brite Light, finally delivered at a few minute to twelve. Explaining that the Arena had to be empty by 2:30 pm, emcee Junior Sinclair went straight into the tributes.

Up first was successful Japanese reggae singer Nahki, who hailed the late Sugar Minott as his teacher and father and noted that without Sugar Minott there would have been no reggae in Japan. Musical tributes came from Minott's friends and associates and this segment was a trip down memory lane as many of the singers chose a song from Sugar Minott's extensive catalogue of hits. A party atmosphere was created as veterans such as the Silverstone, Bongo Herman, George Nooks, Errol Dunkley, Derrick Harriot, Little John, Triston Palmer, Phillip Frazer and Bunny Brown saluted Minott in song. Also honouring the Godfather of Dancehall were youngsters such as Sugar's three grand-daughters, Samantha Strachan and Johnny Osbourne's daughter, Julie, who recalled Sugar Minott's kindness to her as a child. "If he was buying ice-cream for Tamar (Sugar's daughter), Julie would get ice-cream to," she said.

Representing the University of the West Indies were Donna Hope-Marquis and Dr Michael Barnett who were fulsome in their praise of the reggae icon. Dr Peter Phillips of the Peoples' National Party also hailed Sugar Minott and extended his condolences to the family.

In paying tribute to her son, Sugar Minott's mother, while keeping her composure, remembered Lincoln as "a boy who always loved music" and who would often stay out very late at nights as he heeded the call. However, in stark contrast was her grand-daughter Tamar, aka Fire Pashon, whose tears flowed continuously as she sang and spoke of her love for "a great father who will be missed".

Sugar Minott's body was interred at Harker's Hall in St Catherine.

Photos: Karl McLarty

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