ST CATHERINE, Jamaica— Rastafarian firebrand Capleton delivered a transcendent performance during the Sting 2023 concert held at Jamworld in Portmore, St Catherine on Boxing Day that underlined his status as one of the giants of Sting.

Running out in a full red outfit, he got a major ovation as he did ‘Bun Out the Chi Chi’.

“Whole heap a folly a gwaan, too much injustice, too much inequality, too much manipulation, too much death without dignity, too much exploitation, racism, sexism, cannibalism. Don’t kill women, cause if yu kill women, yu kill procreation, if yu kill children, yu kill the future, don’t kill the men cause dem ah the backbone, dem sow the seed, hand inna the air!” Capleton told the audience before launching again into ‘Bun Out the Chi Chi’.

On his second song, he started the intro of ‘Or Wah’, and asked the Jamworld audience to sing. The crowd responded in one clear voice, “don’t change, we going to do something about it”, then segued into the fast-paced verse before the crowd pulled up the song in glee.

Capleton interacted well with the crowd as he did ‘Tun It Up’ and thousands of hands grabbed at the sky. He showed the audience a new move, the Sting wave, which consisted of a wrist spinning action.

He did songs such as ‘Consuming’, ‘Slew Dem’, and he even took the crowd on a trip down memory lane with songs like ‘Dem Nuh Like Me’, ‘Woman We Lotion’, ‘Cuya’ and ‘Everybody Need Somebody’.

The artiste addressed “raper bwoys, tight pants bwoy and bleached out face boys” as he blazed a fire. He also put a fire on diseases like the coronavirus (COVID-19) and SARS.

He showed his versatility with a cultural segment that included ‘Small World’, and ‘Jah Jah City’, and then turned up the temperature as he neared the end of his performance with songs like ‘Hunting to Find’, and ‘On a Mission’.

Ever the consummate showman, Capleton conversed with the audience on a wide variety of topics and asked them to compliment him on his bright red outfit, and in response the crowd cheered him on.

Despite the chaotic event ending of the 40th anniversary show, there were solid sets throughout the night from established dancehall acts such as Macka Diamond, I Waata, Jahshii, Najeeriii, Pablo YG, Bounty Killer, and D’Angel.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange was also present in the audience to show her support.