Monsoon pays homage to Madiba
IN July 1991, a 15-year-old boy named Denton Bedward journeyed from his home in Clarendon with his family to the National Stadium in Kingston, where the Jamaican government was honouring South African statesman Nelson Mandela.
The event, and Mandela, made a significant impression on him. Now 38 and known as Monsoon, a deejay, his latest song Madiba is a homage to one of the 20th century’s great figures, who died in December 2013 at age 95.
“When him come to Jamaica, it was a big influence on me as a youth. The way the people reacted to him was a wonderful thing,” said Monsoon, who lives in Washington DC.
Madiba is Mandela’s traditional African name. He and his then wife Winnie Mandela visited Jamaica two years after his release from prison where he had spent 27 years.
The National Stadium show was attended by Jamaican dignitaries and entertainers. According to Monsoon, the Mandela visit was an eye-opener.
“I soon got into (Ethiopian Emperor) Selassie I an’ other black conscious leaders. Without dem, the world woulda harder fi trod,” he said.
Denton Bedward immigrated to the American capital in 1993. He started his music career there as a member of the DKGB Band with whom he stayed for 18 years, recording one album, Higher Calling.
Last year, he went solo with a four-song EP.
— Howard Campbell