‘Talking Gleaner’ says pastor’s death is a setup
‘TALKING GLEANER’ is not a catchy term for the many podcasts hosted by the newspaper. The Jamaica Sound System Federation’s Facebook page confirms that, “Before dancehall, reggae, rocksteady or ska, sound systems provided the primary source of entertainment and community in Jamaica. Known as the ‘talking Gleaner’ in reference to its media function, the sound system has been [an] integral part of Jamaican life, both in Jamaica and abroad, since the 1950s.”
Despite the popular threat that “informer fi dead”, many recording artistes in Jamaica take their role as media workers very seriously. They keep their fans informed about the big news of the day, often providing a sceptical perspective on official accounts of events. A classic example is Carl ‘Don Mafia’ Udah’s huge hit, “Big Setup”. In a recent interview with me, he said, “I am just reading the news on a riddim.”
Unlike the real-real Gleaner that must report facts, the ‘talking Gleaner’ is free to circulate the opinions of artistes and the masses of the people. As Don Mafia put it, “Mi just a relate weh di people dem a seh. Because dat is my work as a artist. An den mi ha fi talk bout wa mi see a happen. An when I’m talking, I’m not being biased.”
‘WHOLE HEAP A SPECULATION’
As soon as Don Mafia heard the news on Monday that the infamous Pastor Kevin Smith, head of the notorious Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries, had been killed in a car accident, the lyrics of “Big Setup” started flowing. That same day he went into studio at Sipo Records, owned by Errol Campbell, the producer for the brilliant tune. The opening lines immediately challenge the authority of “Dem”, whoever they are:
“Dem tek Jamaica people fi fool Yeow, yeow, yeow, yeow!
Sipo Records
Whole heap a speculation!
Yu nuh hear wa a gwaan?
Sipo Records
Jamaica people, wise up!
All kind a game a play
All kind a card a draw”
The primary speculation is that the fatal accident was just too convenient:
“People dem a seh, dah sopn ya nuh right As di man fi go a court, him lose him life An nuff bigger heads out deh now a rejoice
Cau di whole a dem darkness would a come to light
Tink dem waan yu know bout dem blood sacrifice
Old vampire dem, creatures of di night Memba seh Marcus Garvey did right Seh dem head ha fi go roll like dice.”
Then, there’s the question about why the trial had to take place in Kingston: “Dem nuh try him a MoBay, an a down deh it start/Dem a carry him go a town, car crash a Bog Walk.” Also, the practical details of the death don’t appear to make sense: “How man fi dead an nuh blood nah run like nuh ketchup?” And this seems very suspicious: “Fling him pon a stretcher an di man nuh drop off.” The logical conclusion is:
“Set up, dis look like a set up
A show dem a act or a story a mek up Set up, dis look like a set up
Is a new series weh Netflix soon tek up Tink wi a fool, dem fi know seh wi smart”
‘JIM BROWN STUNT’
“Big Setup” raises the ghost of Jim Brown: “Wonder if some people a fret an nuh waan di man talk/Is a Jim Brown stunt dem a try fi pull off.” In 1992, Brown died in a mysterious fire in his cell while he was waiting to be sent to the US to face charges of murder and racketeering. A Newsweek article published in April that year quoted Brown’s lawyer, Tom Tavares-Finson: “If you believe Jim Brown just burned to death, by accident, in his jail cell, you’ll believe in the tooth fairy.” The ‘talking Gleaner’ speculates that Smith’s ‘death’ is no accident. It appears to be staged: “Mind dem send him weh pon a flight or send him out pon di ark.”
Don Mafia draws attention to Smith’s high-class connections by first asking, “Den a which ooman dat a kiss him pon him jaw?” The answer is in an October 20 Gleaner report about Smith’s social media footprint, which features a photo of Portia Simpson Miller and the pastor. Don Mafia identifies others who appear to have been associated with Smith, even if they now wish to distance themselves:
“Picture him a tek wid governor-general Yu nuh see him pon di plane hitch up side a Sean Paul?
Warren Weir him come out an a bawl Seh im never know dis a pastor none at all Cecile a quarrel seh fi her name nuh fi call.”
In that interview with me, Don Mafia said, “I am not trying to put anybody inna mix up. A just exactly wa mi see a happen. Straight. An right now, dis song is getting a lot a response because when yu sing a song dat di people can relate to, it connect. An is the truth. It out there. Is wat di people dem seh.” The ‘talking Gleaner’ certainly tells it like the people and the artiste think it is. And that’s no setup.