Govana stresses need for entertainers to keep economy moving
Published:Sunday | November 23, 2025 | 11:36 AMYasmine Peru - Sunday Gleaner Writer
Call him ‘Govi Govi’, ‘Genna Genna’, or ‘Govana’, one thing remains the same: the entertainer christened Romeo Nelson has a big heart, and he is solidly guided by a mixture of emotion blended with pragmatism. When Hurricane Melissa created a destructive path throughout western Jamaica last month, he was distraught but took practical steps to help alleviate the pain and suffering of others. However, the Genna Genna, initially, was not in any mood for any festive live performances. Not that anyone could tell when he appeared on stage at last Thursday’s special edition of the Livewire series at Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records in Marketplace, St Andrew.
Govi Govi thoroughly enjoyed himself, and as for the fans, their enjoyment quotient was completely off the charts. What changed? The promoters promised to “fuse entertainment with empathy”, and headliner Govana was all in since the event would now “serve as a nationwide call to action to support those affected in western Jamaica”.
“I was booked for the show before the hurricane, but after the hurricane, I just didn’t feel like doing any shows at all. I just never see myself on stage ... I felt like definitely taking a break,” a contemplative Govana told The Sunday Gleaner during a post-performance interview. But when the promoters came up with a new concept that would see Govana giving a portion of his payment to the hurricane-relief effort, and patrons being asked to walk with non-perishable items to drop in a donation box, there was no other answer than yes from the in-demand hitmaker. “We definitely have to do this for the people. That’s why yuh see how mi perform for the people dem just now,” he added, completely satisfied.
While some critics feel that entertainment ought to be on some kind of lockdown as a mark of solidarity with the people in the west, Govana prefers to view the situation objectively. He expressed the view that when it comes to giving, it is impossible to pour from an empty cup, and he spoke of the importance of keeping entertainment open.
“We have to do [shows like] this for a lot of reasons ... for the people who are employed to establishments like this because we have to keep the economy growing, we have to keep it going,” Govana emphasised. “Because at the end of the day, we’re giving a whole lot ... but in giving, we have to have. Everybody wants to help, but everybody haffi have something so that we can help. So when we do events like these, the bartender dem can get a lickle ting. Everybody a work same way, so a man can even go buy a sheet a zinc fi somebody out inna di west. As entertainers, we have to keep the wheel of this economy going, so we have to do this.”
GIVING BACK
Govana shared that he joined forces with Aidonia and Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor to buy and distribute housing supplies to persons in the west and noted that he “felt blessed” to be able to do this for people who have supported his career through the years. He even freestyled about building houses during his performance.
“Last week we sent a truckload with ply and nail and zinc, and board, and we are literally building back houses ... and I feel blessed. All of this is by God, from God. Also, I owe this to them. The same people who dem house blow down a country, a dem stream mi music; a dem turn up at the shows. So in reality, a dem pay me. So me doing this really and truly a just me giving back [to] them for blessing me. We been learn that from Jump street ... ‘Do good and good will follow you’. There’s no ego involved right now. This is not Govana. This is Romeo Nelson. We need to help our brothers and sisters,” he stated.
Additionally, Govana is intent on shunning all negativity. Instead, his focus is on the positive power of music. “Me definitely know seh music is a driving force that can uplift people. Even me, in the mornings when me walk, once me have in my headphones I don’t feel like I’m walking. I just feel like I’m in a different zone. Listening to the music tek away all the pain and all the stress and all the tiredness. A lot of people have been going to our music for hope for years now, and in dem darkest time we can’t just go radio silent. Dem need something can say, ‘Oh, yes, this mek me feel like mi need fi get up and try summ’n again’,” the Wah Yo Deh Pan deejay said.
Govana, who is booked and busy, shared that 2025 was a good year for him except for the “sourness caused by the hurricane”. Among his performances to round out the year are events in the Turks and Caicos this weekend, Ghana in Africa on Christmas Eve, and Paris, France, on December 27. “I’ve been out there doing the work ... you know ... and carrying it home for the people of Jamaica, doing what I do best, which is music. We just have to keep pushing. We have to do it; we don’t have a choice. That’s what we do,” Govana said with a genuine smile.