Stepping into the role of Burgie

When Jabari Brown took on the role of a young Irving Burgie in production Daylight: A Tribute to Burgie, he knew the responsibility was heavy. One quick search into history would highlight that Burgie is not only a name in music history but also one of the architects of the Caribbean sound that reached the world stage. His songwriting for Harry Belafonte produced global hits such as “Day-O” and carried the rhythms and stories of the region far beyond its shores. For Brown, being part of CARIFESTA XV through this production meant more than performing but it ultimately meant finding the connections between Burgie’s journey and his own. 
 

That connection became clear during his preparation. “A cast member gave me Burgie’s autobiography, and I really studied it,” Brown explained. “Then I did my own research. That is when I started to realise how close his story felt to mine. His mother was Barbadian and very strict. My mother is Barbadian and also very strict. I understood that dynamic right away, and it helped me find a way into his character.” 
 

This discovery shaped how Brown approached the role. He was not interested in delivering a copy of Burgie’s personality, but in creating a portrayal that reflected both the man and the impact his story continues to have today. “I do not try to play him exactly but rather II put myself into the role as well. That way, the audience sees Burgie, but they also see how his story lives through us.” 

Jabari Browne takes the stage as a young Irving Burgie in the A Tribute to Burgie production.

For Brown, the stage has always been both demanding and liberating. There is discipline in the long hours of rehearsal, the memorisation and the pressure to deliver. At the same time, there is freedom in stepping into a role and leaving one’s own worries behind, if only for a moment. “When you are on stage you get to step away from yourself, and that is fun. Yes, there is stress in preparing, but it is the kind of stress that pushes you. It makes the performance worth it,” he said.

What strikes Brown most about Burgie is not only the music, but the determination it took to create opportunities in a world that did not readily offer them. Browne explained “Burgie did not have things handed to him, yet he managed to have a global impact. That is something I relate to, because being an artist is not easy. I know what it means to carve out your own path and as an artist it can be very tough in Barbados. I think his story inspires me and gives me hope that I too, can reach such a level.”

That sense of cultural pride has only grown stronger through the process of preparing for the role. Brown explained that playing Burgie has given him a deeper commitment to celebrating and protecting Caribbean identity. “It makes me talk about it more, push it more. I already loved it, but this role has given me an even bigger sense of responsibility.”

The audience, he hopes, will not only enjoy the music but also recognise themselves in Burgie’s story. He stated “I want people to see themselves. Young Barbadians, West Indians and anyone who is trying to make their mark with limited resources. That is what I am representing, just like Burgie did.”

If Burgie himself could sit in the theatre and watch the production, Brown hopes he would feel the pride of being remembered in such a way. “I would not necessarily want him to be proud of me, but I would want him to feel that we are celebrating him. That he could look at me on stage and see a part of himself.”

In that answer lies the heart of Brown’s performance. It is not about imitation or even about perfect accuracy. It is about bridging past and present, showing how one man’s music continues to resonate, and how a new generation of artists is ready to carry that legacy forward. (PR)