Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

With confirmation from all artistes, the 21st staging of Western Consciousness, 'The Celebration of Good Over Evil', was launched last week Tuesday.

The programme for the event was loaded with some of Jamaica's conscious reggae artistes. But there were no company banners lining the walls or hanging from the ceiling at Talk of the Town at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel. And promoter Worrell King and a few of his guests had much to say on the matter.

King, in parts, told the audience that corporate Jamaica should "stop the hypocrisy. (You) tell a guy to clean up him act, but your company is on his billboard. You allow them to get rich out of doing wrong. I struggle to do right ... and nasty shows get all. My heart is full."

But on the unveiling of a large poster, it revealed, along with the line-up of artistes billed for the show, logos of some companies. King explained that these were "family friends not sponsors, as some have been supporting Western Consciousness from the start", at times getting payments, where applicable, but late.

The guest speaker was Bunny 'Wailer' Livingston. Speaking in a soft voice, he was somewhat philosophical. He told the audience "reggae has come a long way. There is no ism and reggae brings out equality in people".

While he was impressed with "King's consistency, or persistency, in doing what the music is to be - not for money or glory - but what consciousness is to be", he was not questioning music that is not conscious as it provides an economic base for some people.

Not his work

Executive director of the Broadcasting Commission, Cordell Green, who had emceed shows in the past, described Western Consciousness as a movement. He noted that King has been promoting consciousness in music before it became in vogue.

But for King, promoting consciousness in the music was not his work, but the work of the Almighty. And despite 20 years of struggle, Western Consciousness has grown. Thus, this year's production will be staged at the larger Paradise Park on the outskirts of Savanna-la-Mar, which boasts a river running through the property, instead of its original home at Llandilo. Paradise Park will provide an opportunity for patrons to walk around and shape the event in their way.

The show is scheduled for April 25. It will also cater to children and there will be "rides galore".

Western Consciousness will showcase a long list of artistes, who span a wide range of experience. They will come from as near as Savanna-la-Mar and as far as England. The list includes King Sound, Ras Moses (Beenie Man), Luciano, Stream, Romaine Virgo, Granson and Empress.

High-energy performances

The speeches at the launch were mixed with high-energy performances from Empress, Virgo, Stream, I Octane, Leroy Gibbon and Luciano. Each gave the audience a "taste of consciousness" with lyrics that promote romance and decry social ills.

King said he created Western Consciousness after observing that radio stations gave more air time to music that were weak in content, while conscious artistes such as Bunny Wailer received little air play.

He originally started out with Eastern Consciousness, then created Western Consciousness and a band called SANE - Sounds Against Negative Expression. The band provided backing for the performers at the launch.

Ronnie Burke, of Reggae Sunsplash fame, and John Swaby were inducted into the Western Consciousness Hall of Fame. Swaby was inducted for 31 years of outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry, and Burke, for over 35 years. The evening's proceedings were hosted by Denise Isis Miller.