Prodigal Son enjoys giving back

Prodigal Son, shrouded in shadows, holds the mic for the crowd to sing along.

• Freedom Fest the launch pad for artiste's charity work

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

As two women awaited the start of the Lime Freedom Fest concert last Saturday, they used the time to display and speak about their pairs of glasses. The younger proudly announced that her "glasses were for distance", and the older of the two said her glasses were given to her for reading.

Although it is unknown if the younger woman's pair of glasses helped her, it is a certainty that the older woman's pair aided her reading. Prior to the arrival of the younger one and her entourage, The Gleaner had the opportunity to put the older woman's glasses to the test. She was asked to read the words on one of the sponsors' banners placed a couple of yards away from where she sat. Putting on the spectacles with its tag proudly announcing its newness, she read the larger fonts with confidence, "Youthlink". And after faltering briefly on the smaller prints, triumphantly announced "The Gleaner".

Later, as the concert progressed, somewhere towards the middle, Bishop Everton Thomas of the Emanuel Apostolic Church told the capacity-size congregation that "Freedom Fest represents church in action". And in continuing his "word", he told them that they should "break free and stay free" but to achieve this, people needed to "imagine, believe and do". Had it not been the imagination, belief and action of one of Jamaica's popular gospel artistes, Prodigal Son, perhaps the bishop would not have spoken such words, nor would the two women have had the chance to have their eyes tested for free or got new glasses.

In an almost-never-happened interview, Prodigal Son, spoke about his imagination, belief and his action.

making a difference

At the entrance to Emanuel Apostolic Church, the venue for last Saturday's event, Prodigal Son explained, "My original plan was to have a big birthday party, and then I said you know what, I am going to give to the less fortunate. Not just this year, I had Freedom Fest last year, but I charged $250 to enter. It was a good turnout. But I said, if the concept is Freedom Fest, then it has to be free."

"I decided that the entire event would be free with or without sponsors ... . And that was how Freedom Fest came about," Prodigal Son explained.

Freedom Fest was organised through his foundation Radical Reaching Radical. "I am radical, so I want to help other radicals in any way, in music, like we had the health fair giving out maybe over 400 pairs of tested glasses, test *la*hd pressure, test for sugar, flexology, glucose, all kind of things," the forthright gospel artistes stated.

"I am really excited to give because I know many persons have contributed to my life, growing up, so I want to give back ... I want to make a difference." he continued

Pleased by the outcome, the compassionate artiste plans to host another Freedom Fest next year at another venue.

The venue is convenient for Prodigal Son because he calls that church home but a new venue is needed "to facilitate the people".

But regardless of what "definitely they can look out for it next year, somewhere about my birth month".

With a list of sponsors in support, funds earned from Freedom Fest will go towards worthy causes such as a 24-hour soup kitchen at the Emanuel Apostolic Church.

"It cost over $2.5 million for the year just to buy food to feed people." The soup kitchen also provides breakfast for children.

But Prodigal Son said his passion is to establish a halfway house, as he was a 'street boy'.

"That's what I am working towards, as well as to work towards helping children living with cancer and aids. That's where my charity will go," he said.