Howard Homecoming. What can I say, no matter what's going on at Howard or on the yard, you're guaranteed to have a good time when you party with Caribbean people. Since '98 I have gone to the CSA party for my Friday Flex, and I haven't been disappointed yet. It seems to get bigger every year. The Yardfest might have been wet and boring, but that didn't stop West Indian people (and everybody else) from coming out to PumpStation Ent and HU's Caribbean Students Association's annual Homecoming Fete. Last year PumpStation Ent joined with CSA to bring the annual homecoming party to a higher level. The 7 + year tradition of Renaissance playing the tunes at Homecoming parties was continued as well as that of great live performances. PumpStation's partnership has brought bigger venues, greater attendance, larger artists, and more sponsorship to the annual party. They have even linked up with websites and radio stations in the Caribbean to bring Howard's Homecoming to the world. Their reputation for a good party has created the need for larger and larger venues every year, and I would say, it is the only place to be on Friday night.

Well, Saturday morning to be exact. I never reach until after 1a.m. and the lines did kinda long, but I found my way around that quick enough. When I got inside, the Tunnel was already full of people who looked like they had been enjoying themselves for a while. I missed all of the early sounds, but I was right on time for Beenie. An extra long sound check gave me the chance to check out the vibes and say hi to a whole heap a people I didn't see in a while. Everybody was going on good, just waiting for the show to get started. Nuff people had climbed on top of speaker boxes to get a good view of the performances by the time Beenie Man took the stage.

Unfortunately I decided to stay standing up in the back instead of trying to fight my way to the front (laawd gawd, it did too hot in there fi mix up wit one whole heap a people) and, since I'm all of 5 foot nuttin, me couldn't see a ting. For a while I did watch him pon di big screens, but that soon cut off and go back to the familiar adds from the sponsors - including the likes of Digicell and JN Money Transfer. (Still, I caar complain, there is something refreshing about being in foreign and watching adds from the Caribbean). Beenie Man did nice up the place at first, and him perform for a good while (a likkle too long so some people seh) but him give a good show still. One ting 'bout Beenie is the man really work hard when him perform. By the end of the show him did a sweat and all a strip off him shirt. My friends in the VIP said him did tired when him come off stage. As it should be. A few highlights of his performance had to have been when he enlisted the partygoers in helping him with him song pum pum and when him did perform the song Frame I. John Hype's surprise appearance really got the crowd going as him and Beenie bust the latest moves across the stage. And of course, the "gal dem sugar" haffi bust him ole tunes and have everybody a bubble and wine up dem self.

After Beenie, the real dancing got going with Renaissance Disco's Jazzy and Delano spinning the latest riddims. You can always depend pon dem fi nice up the vibes. Jazzy bring nuff energy to the place, demonstrating the Willie Bounce and hyping up the crowd. By then the video screens went back to the live feed of the stage and nuff dancing (and learning the new dance dem) did a gwaan. Everybody in the place did start bus the Willie Bounce. Dipping and jumping and bouncing from side to side was the order of the night. From Renaissance touch the stage the party get nice and it neva finish till 5 in the morning.

But don't think that the night was pure Reggae. This party had something for everyone: one of the biggest sound systems in Dancehall music, one of the biggest artists in Reggae music, and a variety of music all night long. Trini sound Radio Active was on hand to provide all the Soca massive with some vibes. Selectas Hypa Hoppa and Dane kept the crowd going after Renaissance did hype them up. All when the lights did come on people couldn't left. Everybody was hot and sweating and still carrying on like the party nah soon done. Jumping and winning the whole night through till the morning.

I for one enjoyed myself thoroughly, and from the comments outside the tunnel I was not the only one. Everybody foot a bun dem after this dance, mek me tell you. And me did hear one set a girls a talk bout how you can always count on coming to the Caribbean party at all 3 o'clock in the morning and still get your moneys worth. I did assume seh is "The Doctor" draw out so much woman dem, but I'm not so sure anymore. When me did ask the promoter Leon 'Tinga' Anderson why so many woman deh deh - if him tink seh is PumpStation or Beenie a bring dem out - him seh is a toss up to rawtid. Me nuh business who is responsible for bringing people out - all I know is a few thousand people did enjoy themselves Friday night cause the crowd did nuff. And everybody suppose to have a good time, cause from stage show to soca, there was something for everyone.

Thank you PumpStation Ent for yet another wonderful event. Can't wait to see what next year's homecoming going to be like (maybe Jah Cure??). Until then I will have to make plans to come down for RawKus cause dem vibes deh sweet, and me nah wan miss dat.

Jennifer Barefoot Smith signing out for TJJ.