Mawga Don is not giving up despite setbacks

Despite a life-altering motor vehicle accident in 2022, which has caused him to use a wheelchair, selector-turned-artiste Mawga Don says he has more reasons to be joyful than depressed.

The St Elizabeth-based reggae singjay, born Adrian Daley, shared that he is grateful to be alive and to be able to release his 16-track album titled Respect, despite a flurry of hospital visits and rehabilitation therapy.

" Respect was to be released four years ago, but the accident came, and everything mash up. So that made the album very close to me, and I give thanks to the Almighty for life and the determination that I have because, based on my situation, [to have a] terrible accident and then confined to a wheelchair, to put out an album takes energy and money," he said.

"Furthermore, I was doing all of that while at Mona Rehab. I just said to myself one day, 'Mi still have mi voice and can just gwan balance out miself wid some dubplates,'" he said. The album was released on August 1, and was produced by his Don Squad Muzik record label. Mawga Don said the album embodies love and reflects on lessons learnt in childhood while growing up with his grandmother, 'Miss Pie', who is one of several people who inspired him to try music.

"She have mi from mi a 10 months [old] and she never allow mi fi go outside, so mi always a sing in the yard. Then there was a sound system in the area, it name Magnum Force, and when that turn on mi always tune in, until mi start play on it. Then mi start play [on] a next sound name King Legend, until mi have my own for about 15 years now," he said.

Mawga Don said that 2024 has been filled with ups and downs. His various trips to and from rehab are taking its toll on him mentally and physically.

"Mi cry like every day, because people have to change mi, and sometimes feed me. Mi have to a depend on others and mi not used to that," he said. But the singjay, who began his professional music recording career in 2017, said he won't quit.

He said the fact he was able to release an album, and several tracks, show him that God "still a do Him thing for me".