MOJAH. I am no wrongdoer

Fantan Mojah hates the bad-boy image he has acquired since his performance at Western Consciousness in Westmoreland earlier this year, and says he regrets his behaviour at that show.

That image, he said, cost him a performance on Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest last month and probably a few other shows in Kingston. He is therefore determined to quickly shake loose the perception because it has strained his relationship with the fans he really cares for - those who love God and want to hear the message in his music.

"I am no wrongdoer," the singer told Splash in an interview. "I love God, and I am here to spread His message and it can't help me if the people I want to hear the message ignore me because they feel that I am unruly."

Mojah had apparently disappointed the audience at Western Consciousness in April when, during his early morning performance, he berated the police after the volume on the microphone he was using was reduced.

He also claimed that he was being abotaged and attempted to get the audience, who mostly stood silently and stared blankly at him, to agree.

He eventually left the stage after the microphone volume was again reduced during his delivery of Hail The King, one of his more popular singles.

After that, the show, which was running smoothly, ended in bottle-throwing disorder.

Now, Fantan Mojah feels that he is being punished for that episode, to the point where his first attempt at staging a show in Burnt Savannah, in his home parish of St Elizabeth a few weeks ago, has been characterised by some people as disorganised. The reason?

Some of the artistes advertised failed to turn up.

However, according to Mojah, the artistes had indicated that they would have been at the show. "But some of them, unfortunately, couldn't make it," he said. "But, on the other hand, some who were not advertised came."

He said that Turbulence had to cancel because his mother was ill, Luciano flew out to do a show and Sizzla couldn't make it.

Capleton, who was not advertised, turned up unexpectedly and joined other major acts like Anthony B, Junior Kelly, Warrior King, Harry Toddler and Paul Elliott, Mojah explained.

"And the good thing is that not even a pin drop, no one was hurt, and the people enjoyed themselves," he added.

Last year, Mojah emerged as the newest voice of reggae music's messengers, with hits like Hungry and Hail The King, songs which address social and economic conditions, as well as the need to serve God. He said that this was the route he wanted to continue on without the distractions of an unsavoury image.

"The most conscious tunes right now is me do dem," he said. "A me alone a hold out with even my new songs, Corruption, Jah Love Revealing and No Need To Worry. A me alone a hold out," he insisted.

He also lectured the media: "Don't paint dem picture 'bout me as if me is a beast. Make di people know sey, hear wha, Fantan a keep things positive same way and him nah change. Is not like seh me a do no derogative song fi mislead di people dem. Everything me put out a something positive. So say something good 'bout me now. From wha day too much bad image a push down di people dem throat."

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