Beenie Man

CURTIS CAMPBELL, STAR Writer

Dancehall artiste Beenie Man has collaborated with veteran recording artistes, The Astronauts, for a new collaboration 'Chikungunya'.

The song is produced by the Lockecity arm of Truckback records and aimed at raising awareness about the virus which has affected islands across the Caribbean in the last few months.

Producer Adrian of Lockecity said Beenie Man came up with the concept of the record. However, the Astronauts joined in to make it a decent group effort.

"One of the members of the Astronauts is Fambo's brother so we already had a relationship. We decided to go for a mento production because we wanted to grab the attention of the entire population, young and old," Adrian said.

The producer said the song is already receiving favourable airplay across the Caribbean since being released last weekend.

"People love it all over because the virus is affecting the entire Caribbean. I haven't caught the virus as yet and I am fighting to keep it that way, but my wife and my nephew have already," he told THE STAR.

Up-and-coming recording artiste Wayne J has also recorded a single called Chikungunya. The young artiste was unavailable for comment. However some of his lyrics are as follows.

'It mek a bag a young people a move old, yesterday mi see Bingy bare feet, now today mi see him a walk with stick a bawl for his back and a bawl for his hip. One Panadol, one Panadol quick. Mi haffi wonder if is an epidemic; yu could end up in a public (hospital) or in a clinic.'

The symptoms of chikungunya include high fever, joint pain, mainly in the hands, wrists and ankles, headache, muscle pain and a rash. The health ministry said although chikungunya does not often result in death, joint pains and stiffness can last for months, even years, with infants and the elderly at greater risk of more severe symptoms.