Roots deejay Ken Serious has been aware of the black man’s achievements and challenges since his youth in Clarendon. Even in the Internet age, he believes there is not enough information on the cause.

Concerned about a decline in Afrocentric messages and themes in mainstream media, he wrote and recorded Defend mi Blackness, a song produced by Issachar Muzik out of Los Angeles.

“What inspired me to write Defend mi Blackness is to help reactivate the consciousness of greatness that’s written on our DNA as a people. How many of us parents is enforcing our culture, values and the practice of it that was handed down to us from the elders?” Ken Serious asked. “I am concerned about the level of violence and chaos globally but black people need some special attention because we are the one who have to find solutions for our problems and my main contribution is through the messaging of my music.”

Defend mi Blackness hears him honouring the “teachings” he received as a boy from Rasta elders at Farquhar Beach in Clarendon. Born Kenton Matthews in Manchester, Ken Serious credits regular visits to that fishing village for making him socially-aware.

“That’s where I discovered the great history and real facts about how powerful, beautiful and magnificent we are as a race of people,” he said.

Ken Serious has trod the roots-reggae road for over 40 years. Previously known as Captain Kenterus, his career started on sound systems such as King Basil in Clarendon and Thunderbird in Manchester.

His break came when he moved to Stereomars, a ‘sound’ owned by Kenneth “Skeng Don” Black. His first released song, Gone A Sea, was produced by Steely and Clevie for the Skeng Don label.

Over the years, Ken Serious has recorded songs for a number of producers including Sugar Minott, Tony Rebel, Richard Bell, Clement “Coxson” Dodd and Cocoa Tea.

It was while at Rebel’s Flames camp during the early 1990s that he had a change in moniker.

Some of his recent songs include We Have to Make It, Bring The Vibe (with Lenny Lavida) and Vacation.

Howard Campbell