Peter Morgan of Morgan Heritage performs at the Family Affair Concert.

A superb performance from Jamaican reggae band Morgan Heritage capped the Family Affair Concert that took place at the Jean Pierre Complex, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain on Fathers Day Sunday 18th June. This show was produced by the Hadeed Brothers; Jason, Stephen and Donny with David Dyer providing technical and administrative support. Stephen Hadeed explained prior to the show that he decided to bring Morgan Heritage here in an effort to send the message that family life is important to the people.

“In all honesty, I am not concerned about whether we make money from this event or not. Money is not everything and there is no safe or vault built into the casket for you to take it with you when you die. My brothers and I want to play a part in bringing this country back to what it once was and we realise that family life and unity is the key.

“In the Syrian / Lebanese community family and unity is important. We will have our differences and one person might take business and customers from another and there will be quarrels. But that same person will willingly give the other advice on how to build his business because at the end of the day there is always unity within the family and the community. We will sit down to eat together and talk, work things out. That is the life we know. Morgan Heritage is a strong family unit with an important musical message,” Stephen Hadeed said at a pre-show media briefing.

Four of the Morgan Brothers; Peter, Gramps, Lukes and Mr Mojo, came for the concert along with the supporting musicians that comprise the band. We found out that there are thirty siblings in all. Yes; thirty of them and they all grew up as one family. There are other musical amalgamations including a band called Elements that have sprung from the Morgan family since their father the legendary Jamaican musician, Denroy Morgan abandoned his own very successful career back in the 1980’s to nurture that of his children who are becoming legends in their own right.

Remaining true to the theme of Family Life throughout their performance, Peter several times called on the audience to remember that being supportive of one another in whatever one does is important. He also called on the fathers to remember the importance of fatherhood and nurturing their children. Peter said there should be no absentee fathers especially in this time when it is so challenging for a child.

After opening their performance with “Don’t Haffi Dread,” Peter said people always ask him if he and his siblings are Christians or Rastafarians and he in turn asks them what the difference is. “A true Rastaman follows the lifestyle of Jesus Christ, so such a question is null and void. Don’t get caught up in religion because it is just like politics. We should all love each other regardless of religion, colour and social status” Peter said. He added that the main difference between today’s Christian and the Rastafarians is that Christians have not yet accepted that Haille Salassie is god.

During their time on stage Morgan Heritage performed several of their hits from the band’s more than ten-year history. The audience sang along to classic songs such as Patrons danced to familiar melodies such as “Live Up,” “Black Man’s Paradise,” “Let Them Talk,” “Protect Us Jah,” “Rise,” “A Man Is Still A Man,” “Liberation,” “Ready To Work,” “Freedom,” “Trodding Jah Road,” “She’s Still Loving Me,” “How Come” and other songs that are considered classics by their fans.

Also on performing was opening act Isasha and Million Voice accompanied by the Ice – Gold & Green Band, which also explored the themes of universal love and family life. They had the patrons singing along as they sang hits such as “So Divine,” “Who Jah Bless” and others. Prophet Benjamin, however, chose to use his time on stage to promote division and hate as he called Christians demons that are bent on destroying his people. He also condemned the authorities for preventing him from being on the school tours because he, “ does sing too much about weed.”