Stitchie blazes at Sumfest

Stitchie

Claude Wilson, Freelance Writer

Western Bureau:
WHEN LIEUTENANT Stitchie performed at Reggae Sumfest in 1997 it was with a head bandaged, blurred vision and blood oozing from his nostrils, the result of a motor vehicle accident en route to the Montego Bay event. Four years later, Reggae Sumfest 2001, Stitchie triumphantly returned to the same stage, same dancehall billing, to deliver a persuasive message of redemption that is only through the blood of Jesus Christ. "Everything is different, it is a 360 degrees revolution. When I was here last time [1997] I was performing, now I am ministering. The difference is, then I was touching the superficial levels of human emotions, invoking laughter and making social commentaries. Now, it is a different motive. My main purpose is to stir the spirit in man into realising the need to have greater fellowship with each other, but more so to have an even greater relationship with our Creator".

The focus of Stitchie's Dancehall Night ministry was toward his erstwhile DJ colleagues especially those whose music is offensive to general good taste.

In Fast and Pray he asked God to "save, protect and bless Bounty Killer as you [have] bless him with the voice of a warrior. Anoint him please and set his blood against Lucifer". Remember Moses Davis; yes Beenie Man just lead him on. In his mouth put a new song. Most talented, excellent entertainer. Help him to accept Jesus Christ as his Saviour". The song further calls on Capleton, Lexus, Merciless, Ninja Man, and Mr. Vegas to change direction and come to know Christ as Saviour.

Altar call

Ironically, It was Mr. Vegas who first responded to Stitchie's "altar call" but later proceeded on stage with a Bible in hand and expletives on his lips. With the negative mindset of current dancehall practitioners and the embarrassing way the Jamaican music was brought into disrepute on Dance Hall night by some of the same DJs he prayed for just minutes before, does [Lieutenant] Stitchie expect that his seed message will bear fruits among the DJs? "Yes, for tonight I pray, I decree that my dancehall friends will all be saved. That they will be blessed and be prosperous and [that] God will draw them into his Kingdom just as he did with me. And so I have to keep on praying and fasting for my brothers because I love each and every one of them unconditionally, just as Christ loves me unconditionally," he told The Gleaner. "When Shaggy get save he will say triumphantly It Was Me, that DJ Merciless would be changed from a Warhead to Godhead and Mr. Vegas would hold his Heads High in singing for Christ". Dressed in military-like garb and sustained by the backing voices of Sophia Clarke and Joy Beaton, the former dancehall lieutenant temporarily subdued an expectantly charged Catherine Hall atmosphere, swarming with scantily clad ladies and ganja-smoking men, and the responses when prompted were well-meaning shouts of "praise the lord and hallelujah". Maybe, the Sumfest crowd detected a measure of sincerity and conviction in his plea; perhaps it was his non-condemnatory approach in delivering the message of love and hope in Christ. They, the dancehall crowd, would have spotted a phoney if ever there were one. Stitchie was no phoney, for his courageous stance in delivering an uncompromising message aimed at the heart of the people's idols, the DJs, and on their dominated turf there must have been some spirit force present, possibly the Spirit of God.

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