Shabba Ranks honoured at Sumfest

Saturday, July 21, 2012
Rexton ‘Shabba Ranks’ Gordon was last night honoured on the Sumfest stage at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex in Montego Bay for his contribution to reggae and dancehall.

The award came after a blistering performance which showed vintage Shabba at his best.
For over one hour he went through his mega hits keeping the crowd on their feet.

The award was presented to the deejay courtesy of culture minister Lisa Hanna.
An emotional Shabba, after thanking the organisers, called his wife Michelle on stage to share in the moment.
“She is the reason for my peace of mind and tranquility, she mek mi look so good, come to me baby,” he said as she joined him on stage.

The family circle was complete when their two sons – Rexton Jr and Jahwon– joined them. There was no missing the note of pride in the deejay’s voice as he spoke of his children’s achievements.

“Rex Jr, political science and law at Boston University and Jahwon, 98% average in chemistry, physics and maths!” was the announcement to shouts of approval. “That’s why I’ve been away a little while,” he said, addressing his long absence from Jamaica.
The Ranks wasn’t finished yet as he encouraged fellow artistes to remember that they are a product of their environment. But the statement that connected the most was when he reminded that the ghetto can produce good things.
“Not only gunshot can come out of the ghetto, I’m a natural proof of ghetto progress.”

— Cecelia Campbell-Livingston

I am under the assumption that Lady Saw and Tifa who had reserved bad blood way before Tifa herself entered the music. It is incomprehensible the level of the sparks that fly between these two. There must have been a source and a tributary constantly flowing into that source. As per Tifa’s twitter, shortly after her performance at Sumfest, ”Dem sabotage me!!! But God nah sleep”. Not only is the unprofessional but takes away from her as a person. But lets get to the logistics of this. How many times can one claim they are different from the rest and their struggle is /was harder than the rest and people keep believing it? Tifa, the same mind that recognizes ”badmine”, is the same mind that is ”badmine”. Life in general is hard..Get over it. When we stop fighting we are dead. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, because life will not feel sorry for you and make your challenges any less. People on the street are already saying that you use UNCONVENTIONAL means by which to get answers, it is quite transparent that those UNCONVENTIONAL means have not opened any doors for you. Focus on you and your career!

Lady Saw, where must I begin? If it si Tifa’s publicist wants to big her up and use your name to make her look better THATS HER JOB! Say thank you to the public that is supporting you and keep it moving! Tifa and you are not the same age for there to be constant banter between you two.. Leave the YOUNG WOMAN alone!

It was like a drama from one of the Nollywood movies as three men, who robbed a church in Enugu burst into tears and asked God for help at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, of the Enugu State Police Command.

Relating their nefarious activities in the house of the Lord, the suspects, who gave their names as Efe Best, Nester Uvieghara and Ben Kalu, said they had robbed St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Trans Ekulu, Enugu State on July 9, through the invitation of one of the parishioners who is said to be a member of Knight of Saint Lumumba.

The suspects also disclosed the name of the Knight who invited them for the operation as Sir Joseph, who is said to be an in-law to the parish priest.

The leader of the gang, Kalu, said: “Joseph used to be our gang member in Lagos where we used to steal car and vandalise all the parts and sell them at a place called Coconut in Lagos. We have been with him for the past eight years before he relocated to Enugu and we have been in touch since then.

“About three weeks ago, he came to Lagos and met us and introduced this job to us but refused to disclose to us that we were going into the house of God to rob and steal cars.”

The suspects added that on arrival in Enugu, they were checked into one hotel in Trans Ekulu by the said Joseph waiting for the zero hour. They said that about 1.30a.m. on July 9, they were taken to the premises of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Trans Ekulu for the robbery.

Kalu said they robbed the parish priest office and also attempted to move some cars out before they met resistance from the security operatives who were alerted by the public.

He added that as a result, they escaped with some injuries sustained when they encountered the security operatives.

On their way back to Lagos, they stopped over at Ore, Ondo State to eat but members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, who suspected them alerted the police from Ondo State command who rounded them up.

“We regret every bit of our action because we never knew that we were going into the house of God to rob and steal cars although when we got there, Joseph told us that the priest is not in town. We want God to forgive us because it was not our intention to rob in the house of the Lord. It was Joseph who led us into this mess,” the gang leader added.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Police Command has commenced investigation into the robbery. The commands Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ebere Amaraizu, said the suspects would be made to face the music in accordance with the law after the investigation.