Jamaican DJ, 'Poor and Boasy', Succumbs to Jamaican Malady

When 'Poor and Boasy' was crowned Magnum King of Dancehall in April 2009, I was overjoyed...not only because this young man is a good DJ, but because he's coming from literally nothing.

["Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall" is an annual dancehall DJ competition that exposes Jamaican dancehall (singing) talent to Jamaica and the rest of the world. It's main sponsor is Magnum Tonic Wine.

NB: This is not an endorsement of Magnum Tonic Wine...but of their ability to propel poor Jamaican youths to stardom...which results in a better standard of living for these youths].

'Poor and Boasy' (Omar Johnson) stood out in this competition because he was:

1) A street-boy...living on the streets of Kingston and making his living by cleaning the windscreens of cars that stopped at the intersection of Hagley Park Road and Eastwood Park Road.

2) He's a really good DJ.

His main prize from the competition was Jamaican (JMD) $1 million (US $11,226).

Poor and Boasy's being sought by the police

Now he's being sought by the police for a stabbing incident that occurred during a card match, last week.

'Poor and Boasy' is still on the run and his lawyer is apparently waiting for the right moment to let him turn himself in to the police.

When I heard this news...I shook my head in disappointment.

I was sad that this young man with so much promise, allowed himself to succumb to the common Jamaican malady that affects young and old alike - our inability to resolve conflicts, peacefully.

Every day for the past four (4) days, the news has been awash with murders by the gun and knife, with the perpetrators, oftentimes being members of the victim's own family.

Jamaicans die, due to our inability to effectively deal with conflict

Jamaicans die, due to our inability to effectively deal with conflict.

This is a big problem in Jamaica and needs urgent attention by our churches, government, community groups and individuals who know better and do better.

As Jamaicans, we need to learn that:

1) The knife and gun are deadly instruments, more-so in the hands of people who are angry

2) Arguments will occur, but we must be able to "talk it out" or "walk it out".

What this means is:

a) We must learn that people can disagree with our viewpoints..they have a right to think differently than we do.

• We must be able to tolerate differences of opinions and listen to the other person's point of view.

  
  

• We must listen and then speak. God gave us two ears and one mouth, we must use them in that proportion.

  
  

• When "talking it out" - (having discussions when we disagree), we must have our facts...if we have none...then we need to forget about the discussion, for we are basing our argument on emotions and not facts.

  
  

• During an argument, we need to learn to calm ourselves down (by counting to 10 or to even 40) and mutually agree to hold the discussion at some other time, when we are calmer.

  
  

• Continuing a heated argument is futile and results in both parties saying and doing things they'll both regret, later.

  
  

• We must know the point at which an argument is getting very heated, and if this is so, then point b), below, follows:

If someone irritates us to the point of extreme anger - it's best to just walk away

b) If someone irritates us to the point of extreme anger - it's best to just walk away from the argument...

...Don't try to win points - yes we may feel that we are less of girl, woman, boy, or man, when we walk away, but we are greater men and women...

...For we live to see another day and we leave our would-be-opponent in a quandary (confused), as he/she doesn't know how to respond when we just walk away.

Walking away also gives us the opportunity to calm down and to face the person, anew and refreshed, some other day.

3) We must only attempt to "talk it out" with someone who's reasonable...if the person is not (from our previous knowledge of the person, or from what the person has been saying)...walk!

(The unfortunate thing in Jamaica, is that even when you walk away, there are people who still seek you out to kill you, just because you and them had an argument).

4) No one, no one is worth going to prison over...no one is worth your upsetting yourself to the point of extreme anger...not even your relatives or girlfriend, boyfriend, wife or husband.

Sure, you may want to defend a family member, but this goes so far and no more...

Sometimes we try to defend family members who are wrong and have done wrong...this is wrong.

We must be able to differentiate wrong from right and encourage our family members to do the same.

If you can't do this, then you need to find a Bible-believing church to go to, where you can be instructed in what is right and wrong in God's eyes.

Leave revenge to God

5) Leave revenge to God...He will judge that person and his/her relatives to their fourth generation (Deuteronomy 5:9)...

When He is finished judging that person and his/her family, that person will be well-dealt with. (Judging here means punishing someone for his/her bad behaviour).

When God says, "vengeance is mine, I will repay" (Romans 12:18-20)...He means it.. He will sort that person out better than you could...leave vengeance/revenge to God.

6) Every argument can be resolved peacefully...find that route to peacefully coming to a conclusion about that disagreement).

7) Do not argue with people with short tempers...even in jest (joke)...these people are like time bombs...stay away from them!

The Bible even warns us against befriending angry people (Provers 22:24-25)...because we, ourselves, become angry, when we associate with them..

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It is my hope that 'Poor and Boasy' will in fact turn himself in and allow a court of justice to judge this case.

He needs to set an example to other young men, that, when they are being sought by the police, they must, with their lawyer, turn themselves in and allow lady justice to take her full course!

(I would like to thank kibwemcgann for the use of his YouTube inset video above, of 'Poor and Boasy's' winning performance at the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall competition, this year).

Sources Include

1) Power 106 FM, June 7-June 12,2009

2) Article, "Poor and Boasy to turn self in" by Sadeke Brooks, Jamaica Star Online, June 13, 2009