Chuck Fenda’s Wah Gwaan Pon Di Rock draws heat over Jamaica’s social ills

Conscious reggae singer Chuck Fenda has drawn sharp reactions with his track Wah Gwaan Pon Di Rock. Issued on June 5 through Juna-Vill Records, the song is climbing in attention for lyrics that press hard on problems he argues ordinary Jamaicans face.

Still, Fenda — widely known as “Di Poor People’s Defender” — insists the record should not be read as a political statement.

“Mi forward pon di rock and see wah gwaan. It nuh civilised, because civilised people nuh go through dem atrocities ya and dem type of abuse ya. We haffi a talk fi di people and fi di yutes dem. We haffi start live like first world country because we have the greats like Usain Bolt and Bob Marley and wi have the greatest island pon di rock. Di place haffi clean up, because we caan continue pon da path ya. So wi just haffi go out deh and speak on behalf of di people,” said Chuck Fenda.

He went further: “I man nuh deal wid politics, I man is just fi di people. I am like the voice of the people. This song has nothing to do with politics, a just weh mi see a gwaan. I am just dealing with Rastafari work.”

Fenda said the online backlash did not surprise him, given the hardships and grievances the lyrics name.

“Did I expect this kind of feedback and uproar about the song? Yes because the people a go through hardship, the people feel oppressed, they are looking for a shepherd to lead them through that path. A we a di voice fi di less fortunate and di underserved,” Chuck Fenda reasoned.

What he hopes fans take from the song, he said, is greater self-love and the resolve to hold firm no matter their situation.

He is also preparing for a July 10 date in Switzerland — his third appearance there — as headliner at the Laksplash Festival in Twann.

“It is my first time doing this festival and mi a look forward to greeting the fans and delivering a wonderful performance, while sending a message to the people. I want when they leave the venue to go home, they leave with something in their minds, something special that they received from the performance, while sending a message of positivity and righteousness. Something exceptionally different,” said Chuck Fenda.