International artiste Akon promised the audience “madness” but what he failed to say was that there would also be the unexpected – chaos and perilous conditions.
If many were paying attention at the start of the show, his entrance to a video clip of a gunfight and burning buildings should have been an eye-opener.
During his set, the artiste created pandemonium by going into the massive crowd on the shoulders of security personnel and had fans grabbing, pulling and yanking at him and groping him.
On Saturday, the second last day of the two-week St Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival, there was a calm before the storm as Akon descended on the grounds of the historic Pigeon island.
Those who braved the sun with umbrellas and hats also saw performances from Tito Puente Jr and his diverse South American orchestra who excited the crowd with their Latin beats and exciting drum playing. The three-time Tony Award winning Tony Allen with the FELA Queens was a great Afro-centric mix and while the band didn’t rouse the crowd, the addition on stage of vibrantly dressed dancers in their pom-poms and beads, thrilled the crowd with their sensual, exotic movements.
Robbie Greenidge and band had the crowd enjoying some fantastic pan and it got even better when they were joined on stage by Trinidadian David Rudder who had the entire crowd rallying around him while he performed Give Praise, his new song Calypso.
Akon, the show closer, had the crowd in the palm of his hand with mothers and grandmothers and children singing his songs.
Men, women and children went crazy as he shook hands with as many one of them as possible.
Security personnel had a hard time holding him up and holding back the fans.
Most of the fans came to see a show and a show is what Akon gave them.
They left the grounds sweaty and weary after an almost ten-hour event.
natangasmith@nationnews.com
