Trinidad lifts Mavado ban - Only allowed to do positive music

Sadeke Brooks

After much persistence the ban preventing Mavado from performing in Trinidad has been lifted.

After being banned from the country in 2008 due to the supposedly violent and sexually explicit content of his lyrical repertoire, the artiste was finally allowed into the island to perform last Tuesday. He headlined RF Promotions' 'A Better Tomorrow' concert that was held at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya.

Promoter for the event, Roy Francis, said he had been trying to get the ban lifted for years and was finally given the permission merely days before the event.

"For years we tried and we end up going through the proper channels like the government and the government realised that he changed up his lyrics. That's how they decided to lift the ban. They only gave us one week to advertise. The concert pull off real nice," he told THE STAR.

feel good

However, there were restrictions. Francis said Mavado was only allowed to sing his positive songs. In addition, he was not allowed to put out flyers, as only radio promotion was permitted.

"We had a smooth crime-free concert. The government even said he could come back and I am bringing him back on the 30th of July. I feel good 'cause for years we fight and it finally come through," he said.

When the next concert is held in July, Francis said, "it will be better 'cause people had doubts that he could come to Trinidad."

Mavado was also pleased with going to the island neighbour after such a long hiatus.

"Trinidad was alrite enuh because I was banned like for four and a half years. Because people didn't really believe that I was there, the crowd turnout wasn't as large as I had expected but we're supposed to go again soon and next time I know it's going to be bigger. It's just like in Guyana when that ban was lifted. When we first went back it was like 4,000 people and the next time was like 25,000 people," he told THE STAR.

Mavado's manager, Julian Jones-Griffiths described the ban being lifted as a positive move.

"The ban being lifted, albeit temporary, is a very positive sign even for other artistes," he said.

In addition, he said the issue of Caribbean countries banning Jamaican artistes from performing in their islands needs to be addressed.

"Other Caribbean countries have other bans and I am working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address it. The music industry deserves the government's support and lobbying, especially with CARICOM and CSME. The legality of banning CARICOM citizens working in CARICOM territories needs to be addressed. Mavado does not have a criminal record so there are no grounds to ban him on," Jones-Griffiths told THE STAR.

He added that Mavado is still unable to perform in countries like St Vincent and the Bahamas.

ENDS

Here is a song he did earlier towards gays and supposedly towards his rival DJ at the time Vybz Kartel before the truce arrived at during that meeting at the Office of The Prime Minister last year.

Dem A Fag Lyrics

[Intro:]
Chat dem a chat like gal, HEY! SCATTA! I WARN TO DEM!
Hey! Mi nuh tust dem! Rifle shot a buss dem!

[Chorus:]
Di bwoy dem a FAG! (FAG!) Dem a FAG! (FAG!)
A battyman alone nuh waan know God
Mi see seh dem a FAG! (FAG!) Dem a FAG! (FAG!)
Well bleached out and full a tattoo like drag
Di bwoy dem a FAG! (FAG!) Dem a FAG! (FAG!)
A battyman alone nuh waan know God
Mi see seh dem a FAG! (FAG!) Dem a FAG! (FAG!)
Well bleached out and full a tattoo like drag

[Verse 1:]
HEY HEY! SEE DEH!
Him mek him fren dem press press him like button
SEE DEH! Nuh rifle shot a chop chop him like button
SEE DEH! Mi keep my gun mi smif and wesson neva heavy
SEE DEH! Why yuh a chase like gal Scatta wah tek dat freak deh? !
45 shot scatter, cau di pussy dem a trace like Macker
Curl up inna yuh gal like dagger, see, gi di bumbohole copper!


[Chorus:]
Cau dem a FAG! (FAG!) Dem a FAG! (FAG!)
Mek dem know, a battyman nuh waan know God
Cau di bwoy dem a FAG! (FAG!) Dem a FAG! (FAG!)
Bleached out face, tattoo dem neck like drag
Di bwoy dem a FAG! (FAG!) Dem a FAG! (FAG!)
Mi realize seh dem a big gun gab
Yo di bwoy dem a FAG! (Dem a FAG!) Dem a FAG! (Dem A FAG!)
HEY WAIT DEH WAIT DEH WAIT DEH WAIT DEH WAIT DEH WAIT DEH WAIT DEH!

[Verse 2:]
A him nuh waan know God and God nuh waan know him
Righteous way inna life him Muma neva show him
A bare sodemite and battyman a seh dem know him
A him a blow di gal before mek di gal blow him
Ever him tell man carry gun
But my gun dem organized and centralized just like di Calico
A nuh threat fi go borrow gun
Check di gully side which part mi live
Mi cousin cross fi come and borrow gun

[Chorus:]
BAD! (BAD!) Dem nuh BAD! (Dem nuh BAD!)
Mi know di pussyhole him a fag
Di bwoy dem a FAG! (Dem a FAG!) Dem a FAG! (Dem A FAG!)
SCATTA! At last bwoy dem nuh waan know God
Di bwoy dem a FAG! (Dem a FAG!) Dem a FAG!
Send fi gun cau dem a big gun bag
Because dem a FAG! (Dem a FAG!) Dem a FAG! (Dem a FAG!)