Sizzla performs at Sizzla In Concert at Village Blues Bar, The Orchid Village, Barbican Road on Sunday night. - Winston Sill photos

Close to the end of his first hour at the Village Blues Bar, Barbican Road, St Andrew, on Sunday night, Sizzla went freestyle for Buju Banton.

Banton, popularly known as 'The Gargamel', will go into his second trial on drug charges in Florida, USA, next month. And Sizzla, who was in Africa - notably Zimbabwe - for much of last year was continuing a set of performances in Jamaica after being off the local scene for some time. He also performed at Stone Love's anniversary celebration and Sting 2010, both held in Portmore, St Catherine, in December.

Sizzla spoke up for Buju Banton lyrically in the latter stages of a very strong first hour, more promised after a break when he ended with 'Get to the Point', the 'hey, hey, hey' refrain resounding from the shoulder to shoulder audience at the Barbican Road, St Andrew, venue.

There were many other singalongs in the hour of mostly roots and culture, opening with Love and Hour, Praise Ye Jah, Guide Over Us, Good Ways, Dem a Wonder, Make it Secure and Simplicity among the numbers which took the house down. Although the glorious cacophony of audience response varied, it was never below extremely enthusiastic.

religious stance

Steve Billings, who operates the Village Blues Bar, introduces Sizzla and the concept of the monthly event.

On the upper end of the 'pull up' scale it was a virtual conflagration for Thank You Mama (for which he did over and other songs).

Before doing White God, the 1995 track which signified his religious stance and imprinted his name on the dancehall community, Sizzla said "do you remember this song? This is one of the first people hear from Sizzla. Sizzla got his recognition through this song".

They remembered, word for word. And they also remembered to say the refrain "free Buju now" in alternating with Sizzla's lines as he dejayed:

"We no love how Babylon a gwaan

(Free Buju now)

Low the Rastaman mek him gwaan mash up de lawn

(Free Buju now)"

He went on to deejay about the CIA and FBI, to the audience's delight.

But Sizzla was not only in a singing mood, reserving some between song talk for the mid to later stages of his first hour. He reminded all about His Imperial Majesty's 1966 visit to Jamaica and his royal lineage. "That's why me go Zimbabwe and same way me go Senegal, Gambia. All these places are there for you. Zimbabwe have one of the largest deposit of diamonds," Sizzla said.

He spoke about learning Amharic, Geez and Hebrew, saying "if you have big university and you can teach French and Spanish, then you can teach the African language".

He reiterated Africa for the Africans and declared "a fia me bun" before doing Simplicity, one of the numbers which took the house down.