Weddy Weddy ‘cyah finish’ Wee Pow confident in event’s longevity

Celebrating the past while embracing the future, it was all about Weddy Weddy’s 23rd anniversary at its Burlington Avenue headquarters on Wednesday night, with the celebration rolling into the usual wee hours of Thursday morning.

Stone Love, known globally as the ‘World Immortal Sound’, invited friends, artistes, plus past and guest selectors to give them their flowers the only way they know how – by partying with them until the last empty crate of liquor was packed away. The venue was buzzing well before midnight as a steady stream of patrons kept pouring in, many hoping to dance the night away, have themselves photographed in their hot new outfits, or take a selfie with whichever celebrity passed through.

The list of who’s who who showed up was impressive, with Gary Matalon, Oral Tracey, Gyptian, Bounty Killa, Nitty Kutchie, Boasy Boy Floyd and Beenie Man spotted in the mix, though getting close to them amid the buzzing crowd proved challenging for most.

As the man who is the chief architect behind the weekly dance that has become synonymous with music and night-time entertainment, THE WEEKEND STAR spoke with Winston ‘Wee Pow’ Powell about creating a musical legacy that is recognised world over.

“Being consistent for all these years was not easy. When we just started, it wasn’t a one-man vision; it was togetherness with Elephant Man because at the time, he used to be based here. So we had Elephant Man and Mr Bogle, and that was a big combination, and what they helped start, it caa finish. All when me gone, it will continue,” he said.

Though he joked that most of the artistes were tired and “beat out from Sumfest”, he was pleased with the turnout and hoped a few would grab the mic and head up to the stage.

“Nowadays everybody (artistes) get shy and a hide, like AI (artificial intelligence) tek wey dem voice. But seriously, this is a big achievement for me, holding it together as musically, everything has a shelf life. But Jamaican music cannot die,” he said, adding, “Even going through difficulties like COVID-19 when entertainment took a back [seat] to health concerns, the music never died. So it’s definitely a tremendous accomplishment to still be here 23 years later, going strong.”

In the thick of the excitement, Gatalon was partying up a storm alongside dancer Cyaan Tiad and seemed determined to learn all the new dances, while Beenie Man hung out on the perimeter, dressed in a full white ensemble complete with an embellished white cowboy hat.

A moment of silence was observed for the passing of Fantan Mojah before selector Boom Boom took control of the console and went into Cham’s Ghetto Story, which hyped up the crowd and got them moving again.

According to Boom Boom, he had to be there, having grown up with music, and nowhere else is someone guaranteed to hear good music than a night out at Weddy Weddy.

“You know me never get any subjects or diploma when me a go school, but me know me graduate with an honorary degree in musicology because me spend years down here a learn from Fada Pow and the rest of dem who tek me unda dem wings, so big up Fada Pow and big up Stone Love.”