By Brian Bonitto—
REGGAE gospel singer Carlene Davis will be donating part-proceeds of her latest album Dripping Blood to fight Ebola in West Africa.
Davis, 61, made the revelation at her album launch at Redbones Blues Café in St Andrew on Thursday.
The singer said she made the decision days ago after seeing a picture in last Sunday’s Observer of a nine-year-old Liberian girl — Mercy Kennedy — crying because she lost her mother to Ebola.
“When my husband [Tommy Cowan] and I saw the picture, we were moved. Just seeing this child, holding on to the tree and it’s almost like she is saying: ‘who is there to help me?’ Because they feel that, chances are, she’s now contaminated, nobody wanted to go near her. Who’s gonna hug her? Her mother is gone. Who’s gonna stand in that gap for her? Rather than ostracising them, we should come together as a nation and pray, and say let’s see what we can do financially to help find a cure,” she told the Jamaica Observer.
Davis, an ordained minister, said she has not yet fine-tuned the details, but may either get in touch with a worldwide medical organisation or start a foundation.
So far, the Ebola virus has claimed the lives of more than 4,000 people and has been concentrated in the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
On Thursday, the Jamaican government issued a ban on people travelling to the island from Ebola-affected countries. Prior to that, Health Minister Fenton Ferguson urged entertainers to stay away from the affected countries.
Meanwhile, Davis gave a spirited performance at her album launch. Her set comprised old favourites as well as some from her new 17-track project.
Live For You, Divine Authority and the title track, Dripping Blood, were well-received by the audience which included former PM Bruce Golding, Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna, as well as entertainers Queen Ifrica, Omari, Spanner Banner and Junior Tucker.
She explained the inspiration for the set.
“It is the dripping blood of Christ why we exist as a people, as a nation and as human beings. His blood was shed so we can be forgiven of our sins, but we have to come to know him as Lord and Saviour,” she said.
“I’m hoping people will hear the Good News that Jesus Christ saves across the shores of Jamaica to the four corners of the earth.”
With a career spanning nearly three decades and 12 albums to her credit, Davis enjoyed moderate success in the 1980s. However, after being diagnosed with cancer in 1996, she re-dedicated her life to Christ. In 2007, she received the Order of Distinction from the Government of Jamaica for her contribution to the music industry and community development.
Her other well-known tracks include Winnie Mandela, Welcome Home Mr Mandela, It Must Be Love, Going Down To Paradise, Stealing Love On The Side, Santa Claus Do You Ever Come To The Ghetto, Dial My Number, and Like Old Friends Do.
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