IF there was a downside to Wednesday’s Dub, Dub Poetry and Rockers night at the Edna Manley College, it was the absence of more young Jamaicans who could have done well to absorb a lesson in the history of this country’s popular music.

Produced by the non-profit organisation, Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JARIA), as a part of Reggae Month celebrations, the night featured some of the foundation musicians and vocalists who have laid building blocks integral to the construction of Jamaica’s popular music.

A select band of musicians, who for the night were dubbed the Rockers Aggregation, delivered a splendid set which had the younger members of the audience with their mouths agape while the more seasoned members of the audience skanked to their heart’s delight.

Led by the perennial drummer Sly Dunbar, the Rockers Aggregation, with lively versions of the MPLA rhythm, named after the 1970s freedom fighters, Movement for the Liberation of Angola, the Black Uhuru anthems, Shine Eye Gal and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Worl’ a Reggae Music, Revolution and Satta Massagana which saw a brief cameo by former Inner Circle and Third World lead singer, Prilly Hamilton.

Ably backed by veteran keyboard players Robbie Lyn and Lloyd ‘Obeah’ Denton, lead guitarist Winston ‘Boo Pee’ Powell, Daniel ‘Axeman’ Thompson on bass and a lively horn section, Dunbar was simply excellent, proving why he has managed to remain current and is arguably the best drummer this country has produced.

A welcome sight was the prancing and chanting of Winston ‘Electric Dread’ McAnuff, who brought back memories of his halcyon days of the 1970s as he performed to the strains of music by the Rockers Aggregation.

Though not as experienced as their Rockers counterparts, the Uprising Band were no less impressive as they paid tribute to the late Augustus Pablo and Sound system veteran and dub creator King Tubbys.

But the night was not only about the country’s musical tradition but its oral one as well, and Oko Unoura –the man who revolutionised poetry and who is the forerunner for established dub poets like the late Michael Smith, Linton Kwesi Johnson and Mutabaruka — showed that a spiritual fire still blazed within.

The barefooted Rastafarian had the audience spellbound with his biting social commentary and left them disappointed when his allotted time came to an end.

Special mention must be made of young poet Dexter Malawe, who, while not billed for the event, displayed great showmanship and wit as he delivered two pieces during a short band change.

Other good stints came from poets History Man, Ras Takura and Racquel Jones, who

were all backed by the Unique Vision Band.

The series continues next week with the spotlight on the rocksteady and reggae genres.