Montego Bay welcomes 2018 with Genesis Gospel Concert
MIn terms of sheer popularity, Courtney ‘Puss Eye’ Morris is perhaps the most well-known personality in Blenheim, Hanover.
Over the past four years, he has been the driving force behind the annual Miss Blenheim pageant, which is a stellar community attraction.
Although he hails from the neighbouring district of Dias, where he works as a chef and restaurant operator, Morris started the pageant in 2014 as a means of community upliftment for Blenheim and surrounding districts.
Unfortunately, a recent upsurge in violence prevented last year’s staging of the event. ontego Bay residents ushered in 2018 in joyful gospel style at the 31st annual staging of the Genesis Gospel Concert, which ran from midnight to dawn yesterday at the Montego Bay Community College’s Lorna Nembhard Auditorium.
The yearly event, which was put on by the Jamaica Youth for Christ (JYFC), started with a moderate-size audience, as attendees were slowly filing into the venue even while fireworks exploded in the distant sky.
As the night went on, however, the audience swelled and filled the auditorium to capacity, with patrons swaying and singing along to several of the songs performed by the more than 20 artistes
‘The pageant was just something that I came up with, and I just decided to do a thing for the community,” said Morris. “We never got to do anything last year because we never got the permit due to violence in the area, so I didn’t force it; I just eased off from it til things cooled down.”
Since 2011, Morris has worked alongside fellow promoter and community resident Marlon ‘Title’ Watson to arrange and promote several pageants, including Miss Blenheim, which is held every November.
The events is eagerly anticipated by the young women in the community, who see it as an opportunity for exposure as well as for winning prizes.
The pageant is open to girls between the ages of 13 and 15, who compete for the coveted title of Miss Blenheim, cash prizes, gift baskets and other rewards, which is funded primarily through community donations.
While the contest is called the Miss Blenheim pageant, residents from the neighbouring communities of Dias, Blair Castle, Middlesex and other neighbouring districts regularly participate in the festivities. who took the stage.
The highlight of the night was gospel dancehall artiste DJ Nicholas, who got the crowd out of their seats and dancing with him as he belted out the lyrics to Daddy-O, Things Already Better, and his debut of a brand-new song, Bible Addict.
Anique Morris, a past Jamaica Cultural Development Commission finalist and past student of Montego Bay High School for Girls, poured out her heart when she was at the microphone, with tunes to include Beulah Land and Sheltered In The Arms Of God.
WOWED AUDIENCE
The Montego Bay-based Mt Salem Open Bible Church Mime Performers and the Adoracion singing group also wowed the audience during their respective turns on stage.
During the running commentary between the concert’s masters of ceremonies, Pastor Ivan Hall and radio personality Brian Bowen, individuals were encouraged to communicate more often with God.
“All of us have to take some time to pray more,” said Hall. “Faith without works is dead, so as you pray, prepare to be part of the answer and to make yourself available.”
The Genesis Gospel Concert in MoBay was held at the same time as JYFC’s Genesis Praise-Fest 2018 at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in Kingston.
Both events were part of the JYFC’s 70th anniversary celebration since its establishment in 1947.