‘Festival Inna Portmore’ now a two-day event

It is not often you hear about an upcoming star trying to help another, but singer Ishentikal cannot bear seeing good talent go to waste. Six years ago, he staged the inaugural Festival Inna Portmore, a show highlighting artistes on the rise, and, this year, he is stepping it up a notch by making the event a two-day affair. Scheduled for November 23 and 24 at 2A Braeton Parkway (Sandyard) in Greater Portmore, St Catherine, patrons will have the option of attending the first night, dancehall night, and/or the final night, dedicated to cultural acts.

“We have artistes on the line-up like Nature, 5 Star, Magma, who is an artiste from the United Kingdom, and we’re also confirming for Droop Lion. It’s basically a mix of upcoming artistes who nuh get the platform and a few established acts weh people know already,” Ishentikal told The Gleaner. “I see the show as a Rebel Salute and Sumfest inna Portmore, a standout show for us here. Even though I am developing my own career, my focus right now is helping other youths, ‘cause sometimes yuh see dem and dem can sing good, a just likkle help dem want.”

SELFLESS CELEBRATION

The occasion will also be a celebratory one for him as his birthday falls on Dancehall Night. The singer shared that the event was inspired from an epiphany he had to host an event that benefits his peers instead of throwing a birthday party.

“Mi have a whole heap of brethren who do music, and I know if I put on a party, they will come, so I thought, why not build a platform fi artistes in Portmore and other young acts who really don’t have the platform?”, he said. “A nuff time mi go stage shows and nuh perform, I just watch the artistes, and when dem do good I invite them to come on the festival, and dem always ready to forward because dem want the help and exposure like me. Mi see where the platform can grow, and me just want it be a big celebration with everyone.”

Orchestrating the affair has not been easy. Ishentikal has to dip in his own pockets year after year to pull off the event and occasionally offers part-proceeds to schools in Portmore. This year, he has St Gala’s Basic School on his list and is hoping to attract more sponsors to expand his cause.

“Mi a try get some people on board who see this event as important, and patrons can also bring donations for the school,” he said. “Paying for everything is stressing. Last year mi haffi borrow some money and spent over $50,000 and get back only $25,00 when the show was over. Even though I’m not getting the help like that, mi cya stop. If I stop that means mi a stop nuff youths. Even if a only one box mi can put up, mi still a go call some artistes and give them that platform. The festival still haffi keep.”

Given name Dwight Johnson, the entertainer released his debut single Bad Mine in 2011 and has followed with songs including Ooh La La and Girl You’re Beautiful. He is gearing up to release Nuh Borrow Clothes, produced by Small Axe Productions before year-end.

– S.G.