Mahima Hope4Hope 2012

By Steve James on Sunday, December 23, 2012 - Photos by Steve James - Comment

Mutabaruka, Jah9, Beenie Man, Duane Stephenson, I-Wayne, Richie Spice and more at this cancer benefit concert in Kingston.

After being postponed twice due to poor weather conditions, the 4^th staging of the Mahima Concert was recently held at Hope Gardens in Kingston and from the support received, it was well worth the wait.

The annual charity event was born from the Mahima Foundation formed by friends and family of Monique Gourzong, aka Mahima who lost her battle to breast cancer four years ago. Sponsored by some of Jamaica’s top companies including but not limited to Stewart’s Auto, the local dealer for BMW motor vehicles, telecoms provider LIME and The Jamaica Gleaner, the event attracted several persons whose lives have been directly or indirectly impacted by breast cancer.

The event featured an expo which was held in the afternoon, showcasing a variety of booths offering patrons the opportunity to view or make purchases in a relaxing and spacious atmosphere. The concert started in the evening and featured a stellar lineup of artistes who maintained the theme of conscious lyrics throughout the night. Among those who graced the stage were Bluegrass, Foundation, Raging Fyah and I Wayne. Songstress Alaine interacted with the audience, encouraging them to sing along with her popular hits. Daville, who has not been seen on the Jamaican stage recently, delivered his better known hits along with a few new songs. When he invited Charly Black on stage to perform a few songs with him the audience showed their appreciation. Upcoming artiste Jesse Royal was his usual positive self, while The Mighty Diamonds did several of their hits and proved that they are still one of the finest groups in Jamaica. When he delivered songs from his recently released new acoustic album, 'Soothing Sounds', Richie Spice impressed many with his vocal range and had many in the audience singing along with his older and better known hits. The Doctor himself, Beenie Man closed the show reeling off several of his numerous hits with the energy that he has become known for.

By the end of the show, the promoters no doubt were proud that not only did they deliver another successful staging of the event, but they were able to make a charitable contribution to aid in the fight against breast cancer in the memory of Monique Gourzong.