A spirit-filled ‘nine night’ for ‘Papa Eddie’

The drums and tambourines, the singing of ever-popular praise songs like ' Press Along Saints' and ' There's a Happy Home in Paradise', and the continuous flow of hard liquor ensured that there were plenty of spirits at the traditional 'nine night' celebration for 'Papa Eddie'.

The square in Tivoli Gardens was a sea of green on Wednesday night as residents and visitors remembered former Prime Minister and West Kingston Member of Parliament Edward Seaga.

The night was all about wearing green T-shirts with the words 'Papa Eddie, we love you' and celebrating the good times, Pocomania-style.

Among the early performers, the Tivoli Gardens Drum Corps kept the vibe lively, and their spirited performance set the tone for the Beeston Street New Testament Church of God, which brought special hallelujah blessings to the venue.

Hustlers were out in their numbers offering all kinds of goodies for sale, from chewing gum to Rizla, and one vendor was seen expertly carrying around a never-ending vuvuzela tower that closely rivalled the length of each song that singers pulled out for the night's entertainment.

" Forty days and 40 nights inna di wilderness," they sang, drawing out each syllable as they chanted the refrain countless times, all in the spirit of the occasion.

Current Member of Parliament Desmond McKenzie welcomed the people and told them to have a grand time because that is what Seaga would have wanted; they obeyed.

Impromptu dance groups were formed in the massive crowd as older men and women, in response to the wake-the-dead music, showed off their skills in traditional Jamaican dance forms, an art that was quite close to their late leader's heart.

Revellers did a series of dip-and-fall-back, bruckins-style dances and the nine night favourite, Dinkimini.

Quite appropriately, entertainer Nazzle Man, winner of the 2018 Festival Song Competition - a contest introduced by Seaga - made his contribution, which included a cover of Kevin Downswell's You Make Me Stronger. Dwight Richards also performed songs like I Am Under the Rock and the song was designed to touch the thousands of supporters of Papa Eddie, sending them jumping and shouting with rapture, Him A Mi Daddy O.