BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – JAH VINCI, the headline act for the upcoming SKNVibes and Appleton Knockshore Night, yesterday morning (Mar. 28) visited two high schools on St. Kitts where he took the opportunity to talk about the importance of education.
The Jamaican dancehall sensation, along with members of his management team, landed at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport aboard a LIAT flight at about 9:12 on Wednesday (Mar. 27).
Jah Vinci’s first stop was at the Washington Archibald High School (WAHS) thence to Verchild’s High during the Morning Assembly sessions.
As expected, many of the students, especially the young ladies, were star struck by Jah Vinci’s presence and many took photographs on their BlackBerrys while others requested to have the artiste’s autograph on their school books and even on their shirts.
Speaking to the students at WAHS, Jah Vinci told them to stay focused on attaining their education in order to pursue their desired career path.
“Just stay focused and gwan do unno school work, because at the end of the day if you want be like teacher, if you want be like a doctor or lawyer or judge (it takes) hard work…you understand wha me a say?”
He asked the students if they knew about Gaza (Vybz Kartel's Portmore Empire Record Company) and they replied in the affirmative through their screams.
He talked about his desire to become further educated as an artiste and declared that it was that desire which caused him to leave the Gaza in 2011.
“But you done know a man haffi work hard and uplift himself…so a dat me do. Mi come outta di whole Gazza ting and just start do me ting pon mi own. And because of education, mi wanted more education fi go further fi learn bout royalties. When mi talk bout royalties, is about artistes collecting dem money and all a dat. Without a proper education you nar go know anything about dem things dey. So jus stay in school.”
Briefly touching on the topic of sex, Jah Vinci urged the students to abstain.
“Well he no sing no song”, said a female student of WAHS who wanted the artiste to sing an entire song.
“He mek me cry and all,” said one star struck Verchild’s High student to her friends. Notably, she was moved to tears of happiness after she took photographs with the artiste.
SKNVibes spoke with Jah Vinci at the airport on Wednesday night, and when asked what the public can expect from him on the night of the show his response was: “Just except a good performance from a good artiste from Jamaica...you understand wha mi a say? A come with full force! You done know whole heap a new culture songs out dere wha we really a try push right now, so you know fi see di response a dat a mi ting right now...you understand? A di crowd and di songs dem wha me a try fi get out dey right now...you understand?”
He was also questioned about what inspires the topics of his songs.
“Well a just like people you know and life and everything…you understand? You dun know growing up...we now grow rough and certain things wha reach we inna life, we just put it back inna music or more time a di people dem wha can't talk fi demselves, a dem mi try sing for. You understand wha mi a she? Nuff people a go tru a lot and fraid fi talk bout it but Jah Vinci dey fi say it. You see...out clear!”
Public Relations Officer of Black San’ Bang-a-Lang, Judy ‘Purple’ Dupont, who had accompanied Jah Vinci on the visit, encouraged the students to pay attention to their academics.
Dupont highlighted that she wanted Jah Vinci’s visit to serve as a “motivation to do well”, adding that they should endeavour to work harder on return to school after the Easter Holiday.
“I guess your teachers tell you this all the time, but I need you to know that you only have the opportunity to do this one time and a lot of us when were in school we think, ‘I well want to finish with school.’ But believe me, it’s not getting easier and your education is your key. I know a lot of you want to make a lot of money but you can’t do that without education. So I want you to definitely believe what the teachers tell you and learn to read book because somebody already did the whole work and put everything into book, so all you have to do is read and the work is not hard.”
Two very popular songs by Jah Vinci that many people are familiar with are ‘Wicked Heart’ (2011) and ‘Soul To Keep’ (2010).
Thought provoking lyrics and conscious messages are crafted into these two songs with catchy choruses:
“Put your trust in Jah…Jah will never make your heart break, Jah will never hurt your feelings, love without pretense,” for Wicked Heat and “Every day before mi sleep a pray the Lord my soul to keep when wicked people dem a roam di streets; my life dem can’t delete”, in Soul To Keep.
The artiste has a number of other feel good and positive tunes under his music belt such as ‘Guide Me’, ‘Thank You Mama’ and ‘Watch Your Friends’.
The Knockshore Night Concert is slated for Saturday (Mar. 30) at the Sandy Point Hard Court from 10:00 p.m.
This looked-forward to entertainment event is part of a long list of activities scheduled for the annual Black San’ Bang-a-Lang, and Jah Vinci is the first-ever regional headline act to participate.
Entertainment on Saturday will also be provided by the Nu Vybes Band International (De Sugar Band), Kollision Band, Grand Masters Band and Small Axe Bands. In addition, a DJ Clash, SP versus SK with DJ Sixaklak representing SP and Unstoppable Chalice representing SK, will take place.
