Give the dance a chance - Ding Dong makes birthday wish for Government to ease early lock-off of events

The birthday wish of dancehall entertainer Ding Dong was heard loud and clear last Friday when he touched the Mas Camp stage for a brief celebratory performance.

"Please, Mr Prime Minister, give the dance a chance. We are making a plea for more time for the parties to go on," Ding Dong said as he acquired the microphone shortly before 2 a.m.

The dancer-turned-deejay made a plea to extend the time for events like his birthday, dubbed 'Good Ting Dem', that represent for local culture.

Speaking to THE S TAR about the early lock-off of events following his performance, the deejay said, "It ah kill we. It ah kill dancehall and, being from the streets, from wah me know, the people dem weh nuh have nutn fi do a night-time ah guh end up deal with violence."

Birthday parties are for wishes, he says, and it is important to use platforms like his celebration to make his views known to the people because he is part of the community being affected, as well as his family.

"Places that were doing okay are being affected, even Nannyville. Events like Yeng Yeng Fridays either lock off or lock down," he shared.

In regards to the violence, he added, "It has really interrupted people's well-being and means of survival. I am not speaking for my community and Mountain View alone, but I am vouching for places like Cockburn Pen, Greenwich Farm and Waltham Park, all about. The people must also stop the violence because the children are missing school in that environment."

The deejay was ecstatic that his birthday celebration was not disrupted and most of the entertainers billed to perform, such as Moyann, Daddy 1, Shenseea, Kemar Highcon, Intence and IWaata Jetlife, plus himself and the Ravers Clavers, had the chance to give the patrons a good show.

Magnum Tonic Wine's team, inclusive of Mark Telfer, Marsha Lumley and Telecia Lindo-Johnson, was in attendance and presented Ding Dong with a speciality cake courtesy of Cake Couture JA and the icing for the night, a limited-edition Movado timepiece.

According to Lumley, people have to show love, to receive love.

"Ding Dong has been showing love; representing for the brand in Jamaica and across the Caribbean in the dancehall and in the music. For that he is deserving of the gifts received tonight and we have a natural synergy that is not easy to find, so we celebrate him," she said.

The Good Ting Dem closed off at 3 a.m. after the performances and musical selections of disc jockeys Antsman, Bishop Escobar, Game Changaz and Boom Boom.

See highlights from the show on pages 14 and 15.