Worrell King unveils Western Consciousness 2025

Western Bureau:

After an 11-year hiatus, cultural reggae showcase Western Consciousness will be back on the local entertainment calendar in December 2025 and will be staged over two days. The event was held for 24 consecutive years between 1989 and 2013,

“Everywhere I go, both locally and overseas, people keep on asking me, ‘When are you going to bring back Western Consciousness?’” said promoter Worrell King, who created the concert in the late 1980s to counteract the lewd and derogatory lyrics that had started to take over local music.

At the recent press launch at the Belmont Academy in Westmoreland, King said the event marked the beginning of what will be more than a one-year buildup to Western Consciousness 2025, which is designed to create a cultural rebirth in reggae music.

“I should not be calling it a rebirth, because it is a case of taking up where we left off in 2013 ... because the message remains the same, a celebration of good over evil,” said King. “We are about presenting music in its purest form, because I see where some people are trying to contaminate the music once again.”

Radio personality Denise ‘Isis’ Miller, who was the guest speaker at the launch, lauded King for the bold stand he took when he created Western Consciousness in 1989, noting that it basically rescued the roots side of the music, which was being threatened by lewd and derogatory lyrics.

“I am delighted to see Western Consciousness back on the calendar ... it still has its place and will be filling the void that was created in its absence,” said Miller. “King has used this event to show people that some of the artistes who they wrote off as vulgar could be packaged and presented in a cultural form.”

In 2005, King proved several naysayers wrong when he booked Beenie Man for the show and presented him as Ras Moses. The artiste did a fabulous cultural performance that surprised those who said that he couldn’t stay cultural for his 45-minute set.

In subsequent editions of the show, King had Bounty Killer performing as Rodney Price; and then in perhaps the biggest surprise of all, he got Lady Saw, who was then the ‘queen of slackness’, to deliver one of her greatest performances, a’clean and most enjoyable set as Marion Hall.

In the one-year build up to Western Consciousness 2025, King will be staging several teaser events. The first one will be on October 20 at Jamaica newest full-size venue, Trident Farm in Westmoreland, which was developed by John Swaby, Jamaica’s top provider of light and sound for entertainment events.

“The October 20 event will be a day event, between 12 and 6 p.m., and will be free to the people,” said King. “We are looking to see the children and their parents coming out to enjoy an afternoon of clean fun and music at Trident Farm. This is our way of offering those who were impacted by Hurricane Beryl an afternoon of fun and relaxation.”

While the press launch was primarily to announce Western Consciousness 2025, attendees were given a musical treat with fabulous performances from the Negril-based High Frequency Band, cultural singjay Jah Jah Bless, 1 Boot, Universe, female singer Kimeco, who performed via the Internet from a location in Kingston, and singer Pure Joy, who brought the house down with his rousing baritone.