Reggae artist arrives for concert

Despite concerns over an approaching hurricane, today a Jamaican musician arrived undaunted in Belize. Saying whatever happens happens, Capleton intends to share good thoughts with Belize’s young people on Saturday night.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
This morning international reggae superstar ?The Prophet Capleton? arrived at the Philip Goldson International Airport to rock the Belize City Centre this Saturday night.

Born Clifton George Bailey the third, Capleton?s got his big musical break in 1989 in his homeland, Jamaica. Since then, his lyrics have hit home with thousands around the world.

Capleton
?It?s all about the music, it?s all about righteousness, it?s all about Rastafari, its all about salvation, it?s all about the people, because the people make it happen, without the people there is no Capleton, you know weh I mean??

Through his conversion to Rastafarism, Capleton has gone from an entertainer singing about violence and degradation of women to performer promoting knowledge and education.

Capleton
?The message is all about salvation, redemption, repatriation, restoration, liberation, emancipation, fire is all about self esteem, self awareness, self reliance, self-taught, self control, fire is all about not stooping to the limitation in Babylon or accept the stripping of the royalty, but analyze for our self, run our surveys, find our truth you know weh I mean, uplift the youth, because you know, youth is really the future. So whatever we teach the youth, the youth live weh they learn or what they are learned so therefore we have to make, ensure or reassure that whatever we teach the youth, we teach them the right thing. People cannot be conscious unless you tell them the truth, you know what I mean.?

It is that message that Capleton brings to Belize?s youth.

Capleton
?All I can tell the youth, stay away from crime, stay away from guns, stay away from drugs, be obedient to your parent and guardian, go to school, get your education, be educated and also re-educated. Never let anyone tell you you can?t make it in life and you noh have to be involved inna certain, you noh have to be involved in criminal activity to be someone in life, you understand? There are turmoils, there are stumbling blocks, there are obstacles, but turmoils, obstacles and stumbling blocks are there to keep you focus. Turmoil, stumbling blocks, obstacles are part of the struggle, is a part of the battle.?

According to local concert promoters, this weekend?s main event has been in the works for some time.

Troy Flowers, Concert Promoter
?Well I think Belize deh on the map now as one ah deh country weh any artist could come perform da Belize, regardless if dah wah R&B artist, a reggae artist, and it?s a privilege fu we get artists like Capleton, like Tanya, Ritchie Spice and them and we have upcoming events weh we have other big artists line up fu this year right yah so too.?

?Capleton has been an artist weh we mi always want bring da Belize, but he has always been booked out so we couldn?t get fu bring ah da Belize. But Third World and Reshodan link ah up and they finally get fu bring ah da Belize. Dah a long awaited arrival of Capleton, I mean I di talk and dah cold chills over me right now weh this man deh yah.?

The Capleton concert is set to start at ten-thirty. Tickets are forty dollars advance, fifty at the door, and can be bought at outlets around the country.