Victor Thompson, Rondell Positive, Rhoda Isabella shine at Jerusalem concert
AFTER A nearly four-hourlong Jerusalem concert on the grounds of the Liguanea Club in New Kingston, Christians seemed just ready to party when Nigerian singer Victor Thompson brought the curtains down at 11:50 p.m. on Saturday with his mega hit song, This Year (Blessings).
The music minister and worship leader came to Jamaica with a promise of a “mind-blowing” concert, and for the most part he delivered. He had the enthusiastic crowd on a sustained spiritual high, using well-known praise and worship songs such as Travis Greene’s Made a Way, prior to teaching the audience two of his own songs and then segueing into his hits that they had come to hear. But, as he himself said in closing his hour-long set, “Next time you invite me to Jamaica, you need to give me four hours on stage.”
Thompson, who has been in ministry for more than 20 years, shared that he has enjoyed breaks “every step of the way”, leading up to This Year, which was released one year ago and has been a career game changer. The video has racked up more than 76 million views on YouTube, and Thompson has amassed a multitude of fans and enough shows to keep him busy every day of the year.
HEALTH IS WEALTH
“When you have a big song like that, definitely everyone wants you, and I bless God for that,” Thompson told The Gleaner prior to his performance. “We don’t take all the bookings ... health is wealth... so we trim down on the bookings and we know where to go. The good thing is that my wife is in this line of ministry with me, so it makes it even easier for me as a family man.”
His wife, Henrietta, was with him on this his very first trip to Jamaica, and on stage he hailed her as “the most beautiful woman in the world”, and then focused fully on his fans.
“I am super-excited to be here, thank you for having me,” Thompson said graciously, as he connected with the hands-in-the-air worshippers.
At one stage he seemed to prophesy, noting that things are going to turn around for someone in the audience who is in debt, and that another person, someone who has been in the make-up business three years without making any profit, will start enjoying success. These ‘prophesies’ were welcomed with shouts of “Hallelujah!”
It was a night on which the Jamaican gospel acts shone just as brightly as their African counterpart, and Rondell Positive and Rhoda Isabella threw down performances which had the crowd in jumping, running and shouting mode, which energised rather than wearied out the saints. With Rhoda Isabella’s appearance at 9:20 p.m., it was clear that the people were ready. They moved closer to front of stage and became her choir on every song and tried desperately to match her high energy level, incorporating vuvuzuelas into their praise and obediently following her command when she told them, “Somebody shout, somebody clap your hands where you are.”
With the place on fire, an intermission was needed to cool things down and prepare for Rondell Positive, a man on a spiritual mission who is known for supercharged performances. The Sticks nor Stones singer did not disappoint. He even took time to speak about his Christian journey which started 22 years ago, but was predicted to be a seven-day wonder. The icing on the cake was his rendition of Keeping me Alive (Cover Me), which was the signal for everyone - even the seated VIP section - to start prancing and running around the venue with their hands frantically making circular movements around their heads.
The DAT Entertainment event got under way at 7:50 p.m. with three prayers and an apology for advertised emcee Basilia Barnaby-Cuffe, who was present, but was under doctor’s order not to use her voice. The opening act, Island Kings, gave their own taste of Marcia Griffiths’ I Shall Sing; Toots and the Maytals’ 54/46; Bill Withers’ Lovely Day; Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Waters; and a song with a Festival feel, Celebrate Jamaica, as well as “some dances approved by the Church”.
At 8:27 p.m., Jodyan Morgan came with the hallelujahs and a desire to take it back to church, after which Nadine Blair and Perpetual Sounds of Praise turned up the praise even more, and also the energy. Their Champion of Love on a thumping reggae riddim was a winner, and so, too, was My Jesus I Love you, which was a special request for the grandmother of the promoter, who was in the audience.
Johnmark Wiggan, the 2023 Sterling Gospel Music Awards Male Artiste of the Year and Breakout Sensation, made a cameo appearance, having been called on stage by Rondell Positive.