Having not performed in Guyana for more than a year, Canada based Guyanese artiste Matussala Mandela Manning is anticipating “great things” to unfold for artistes as a spin off from the inaugural Guyana Musical Summer Splash and the Guyana Artistic Music Awards. They are slated for staging at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on April 24 and the National Cultural Center on April 25.



The artiste said “performing on home soil with a real purpose that goes beyond entertaining is the best experience one can have”. He said he boarded the plane to Guyana last Friday from Canada not because “I believe that events like the Musical Splash and the GAMA awards mean that Guyanese artistes have something to look forward to no matter where they are and it also provides a golden opportunity for networking which can only work to build the music industry.”



Of the two shows, he said Guyanese are not know for coming out to support their own but he is optimistic and is hoping that people will come out and ensure that the promoters and the artistes are encouraged to make the event an annual affair.



Manning said “Some might see this event as a joke thing but to me it’s a motivator for artistes and writers and producers to create more Guyanese music that would eventually hit mainstream. This I as well as the other artistes from the USA, Canada and other parts of the world believe whole heartedly can and will happen on united front that’s why we are here.”



Years ago Manning became popular on stage shows for performing singles such as ‘Teach the youth’, ‘don’t look for me’ which he did with Little Lexus, and ‘Ruff and Tuff.’ But the most popular hit was ‘Rally round’ done with the internationally acclaim Steel Pulse band.



When asked about a possible album release he said in time to come he will release an album from his collection of singles. He recently released in Canada singles such as Survive-don’t make them stop yah’, ‘Woe Wicked man’ and ‘Journey’. He’s also working on a song titled ‘back way officer’ that reprimands police ranks who break the laws as opposed to enforcing in their selfish drive for wealth. Of the shows he said patrons should “look for high energy entertainment from me because while the road ahead is long I’ve matured musically”.



Starting at age nine, Mandela has progressed and continues to surprise audiences with his lyrical potential and performances. As such it is no surprise that he could become a rated reggae artist especially since his life has always been one of musical influences from persons like his father Ras Sangie, who is also a reggae artist.



As a talented boy Mandela was called on stage by Maxi Priest in 1993 to perform and then later began to tour with Guyanese promoters Zico, Professor and Punk Sherlock on home soil.



Then he moved to bigger stages for shows such as Reggae Sun Splash and Sun Fest in `93/94 along side major artistes the likes of Steel Pulse. In `94 and 95 he sang as an act on Sun Splash and Sun Fest shows with backing from the Ruff Cut band.



In 1997 he went to the USA where Davie Simmons became his manager and the youth during that period played a staring role in Buju Banton’s ‘I wanna be loved’ music video.



Incidentally, Buju Banton is one of his musical influences. After three years in the United States performing at many charities, benefits and mini shows he returned to Guyana in 2000.



He linked up with Guyanese artistes such as Negus Narine aka “Little Lexus” (now based in French Guyana) and began to make demo tapes in a bid to become popular. Then in late 2006 he migrated to Canada where he presently resides.



Once there Mandela met with Canada Based Albouystown boy Cyborg, and Ras Sangie at the Reflex Studio. In his words I’m moving from strength to strength and I hope to one day eventually hit main stream where I’ll tell the world unapologetically that I’m a proud Guyanese because my music is here to stay.


(By Mondale Smith)

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