Music fraternity represents at thanksgiving service for Fantan Mojah

Members of the entertainment fraternity, some of whom have not been seen at a thanksgiving service in a long time, were present on Thursday at the University Chapel, Mona, to pay their respects to reggae and dancehall’s fallen soldier, Fantan Mojah.

For many of the attendees, their presence was non-negotiable. “It’s Fantan Mojah. I had to be here,” Professor Donna Hope told The Gleaner. And the exact sentiments were expressed by Mr. G – who always represents at services for fallen soldiers – Bongo Herman, Romain Virgo, Pinchers, Jah Screw, Ricky General, Bridgett Anderson, Neo Sulann Smith, General B, Harry Toddler, Thunda and Military Man, as well as members of the Massive Genda Band, out of Holland, who backed Fantan on his last overseas tour.

“Fantan Mojah is one of our brothers, and we have to support in every way because he would do the same,” a well-dressed Pinchers told The Gleaner.

He added, “Is crazy love him show us on the road, and we have great memories of him in the studio. Even though I never get the opportunity to do a song with him, Fantan was one of my favourite artistes. So, mi miss a friend, mi miss a bredda … him was one of our family members.”

great human being

In paying tribute to Fantan, percussionist Bongo Herman told the audience of the great human being that the artiste was and shared his own input in the creation of the riddim for the artiste’s mega hit, Hail the King.

“We were [at] Downsound studio when it was at St Andrew Park … and Joe [Bogdanovich] said that the riddim need to slow down. I told him the only way to slow it down was to feel it in the one drop, and yuh have time to rock, just like what Bob Marley seh,” Bongo Herman later told The Gleaner, adding more details.

“And, being a man who is around from ska, rocksteady and reggae, mi go in the studio and carry the bass drum, the repeater, the kette drum and the shaker. When Fantan come and hear di riddim, the lyrics that him write show that him did far ahead of nuff artistes who we have now. Sad fi know seh him gone.”

Fantan Mojah’s immediate family showed their own sadness as they wiped away tears while sitting in the pews listening to the tributes from his daughters Fantasia and Anastacia, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange – read by her representative, David Brown – the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association, and musical selections from singer Joseph McIntyre, Bongo Herman and the Warrior Love band, and the Rastafari Chant from the Binghistra Movement. The eulogy was read by Stacy Johnston-Johnson, while Kimberly Blair and Anastacia Moncrieffe read the scripture lessons.

His widow, Michelle Moncrieffe, told The Gleaner that, above all else, she wanted Owen ‘Fantan Mojah’ Moncrieffe to be remembered for his music.

Michelle and Fantan Mojah shared a 26-year relationship which saw them walking down the aisle eight years ago.

going to make it big

“Music was Owen’s passion. I knew him long before he was Fantan Mojah … before one song even played on the radio. I used to laugh and tell him that he can’t sing,” Michelle said with a little smile. “Owen was always a very humble person. He was very sweet, very loving … as they say, he was a ladies’ man. Owen would always say that one day he is going to make it big, and he did.”

The service was particularly painful for Michelle, as she is also mourning the death of her father, who passed away exactly one week after her husband in the same hospital, and in the very same room.

Fantan’s manager, Carey James, who has been handling the arrangements for the thanksgiving services and the funeral, described the day as “tough”, but he chose to remember the good times.

“Fantan was known as an extremely jovial person,” James said. “Even if he doesn’t know you, he’s going to get you laughing once he walks into any room. When he performed at BHIM Fest in Ghana in December last year, none of us knew that it would be Fantan’s last official performance. He made an appearance at Best of the Best after that, but it wasn’t in an official capacity.”

James expressed gratitude to those who have supported the events this week, which included a well-attended wake at Rebel T HQ on Dumbarton Avenue on Wednesday night.

The thanksgiving service and public viewing on Thursday at the University Chapel was officiated by Kes Haile Mikael Brissett of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. It was one of two such events to honour the Rasta Got Soul singer. The official family and community funeral service and burial take place today in Elderslie, St Elizabeth.

uplifting nuggets

Fantan Mojah, who was born in White Hill, St Elizabeth on August 5, 1976, had one passion – music. His first moniker was Mad Killer, a nod to one of his favourite artistes, Bounty Killer; however, his conversion to Rastafarianism saw Capleton suggest that he change his name to Fantan Mojah.

His Jah-filled lyrics, positive portrayal of women, and a backpack in which he carried righteousness, positivity and uplifting nuggets for the needy made Fantan stand out in a crowd. A sought-after performer, he was once signed to Joe Bogdanovich’s Downsound Productions. His début album, Hail the King, was released in 2005, and he continued to release music and perform until his passing.

Fantan Mojah passed away on July 14 while a patient at the University Hospital of the West Indies. He was 49.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com