When Buju stirred Jamaica's Olympic spirit

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 28 January 2019
by Jean Lowrie-Chin

It's not an easy road
Many see the glamour and the glitter
And think it's a bed of rose
Who feels it knows
Lord help me sustain these blows.

At a JAAA meeting in 1995 chaired by then President Adrian Wallace of blessed memory, they proposed that Buju’s ‘Not An Easy Road’ would be a perfect music video to rally support for Jamaica’s Team preparing for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and were approaching several companies to co-sponsor it.  

I remember going home, giving the song a good listen, and convincing my client that they should take up the whole sponsorship. This was agreed and it was my pleasure to visit the studio where Buju did his recordings, and to meet this courteous and brilliant lyricist.

And so, as Buju sang these words, we saw a fine athlete, now Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn MP, going through the paces. Jamaicans quickly caught the Olympic spirit, and we were wild with joy when Deon Hemmings brought home the Gold.

After a startling incident in Florida, Buju has served his time and will return to the stage in triumph. I have relatives abroad who have booked their tickets to be here for March 16. I hear there is not a hotel room to be had that weekend. Buju is back, and we wish him every blessing in this new chapter of his eventful life.