Speaker, writer and radio show host, Mutabaruka, complimented Lutan Fyah on the African focus in the album's title. - Colin Hamilton/freelance photographer

"Africa is the bedrock of humanity," Lutan Fyah said, clarifying that the title track of the 30-song set presents the continent as a woman. Still, he said "most don't know the African self."

He pointed out that "most of the songs on the album is really me produce them. Most of the producer is a not a producer. Is up to the artiste to produce the music, so is a great achievement," he said.

Host of the launch, Denise 'Isis' Miller noted that Lutan Fyah is also executive producer of the album. Among the songs on the set are De La Vega, Save The Juvenile, Slowly But Surely, She's Got Soul and Up In Your Face, with the guests including Morgan Heritage, Turbulance, Natural Black and Inner Circle.

tumultuous cheers

The accolades for Lutan Fyah came not only from the tumultuous cheers of the audience as he performed with the High Voltage Band, but also from Barbara Blake-Hannah and guest speaker, writer and radio show host, Mutabaruka, the latter complimenting Lutan Fyah on the African focus in the album's title.

Mutabaruka said he appreciated the name, as "we live in a society where it is all about guns and daggers ... ."

"We give thanks to see a brethren come with an album named Africa in this bling time," Mutabaruka said. "Most people is Miami and New York them waan go. Them no waan go nowhere with so much bang-belly pickney and fly inna dem eye - that is what is projected," he added about mis-conceptions of Africa.

Later in his address Mutabaruka said that Lutan Fyah had decided to go against the tide, "we going to call an album Africa. Nothing else. That is saying a lot."

He cautioned, though, that "a whole heap of the radio station them not going to play it. And I a tell the brethren don't pay nobody fe play yu album. No payola business to play good music in Jamaica."

performance

There was applause from the gathering.

In his performance, Lutan Fyah started out offstage with De La Vega and continued with Mek It So Hard, noting that he would be performing with guests and hailing Natural Black, Capleton, Queen Ifrica and I-Octane, among others.

Juvenile, like the other songs before, brought the house down, as did Africa as the launch became a mini stage show at Weekenz.

The man of the moment, Lutan Fyah, grabs the mic to take care of musical matters at the launch of his album, 'Africa'. - Colin Hamilton/freelance photographer