November 12, at Number One Shed, Front Street, Hamilton Buju Banton and Spragga Benz gave a direct, virile and hypnotic performance on Sunday before more than 3,000 adoring fans.

Both men simply outshone the other foreign performers that included Wayne Wonder, John Holt and the Dance Hall Divas.

Tiny T (Demeka Tacklyn) a powerhouse of talent contained in a petite frame, gave an intrepid performance that was far too short.

She captured the crowd's attention almost immediately with her lilting manner and precocious delivery and was asked back for an encore.

In contrast, fellow Bermudian duo General Mickey and Junior T stayed on stage far too long and began to wear thin although the substance of their performance was positive.

Although the show began almost an hour late in extremely hot and humid conditions, the performances that followed made the wait worthwhile.

The Dance Hall Divas -- Vanessa Rose (Lady English), Beverley Lawrence (Diva B) and Elesia Cunningham (Lesi the Chameleon) -- extracted whistles and cheers from the male members of the gathering as they appeared on stage dressed in body-hugging white outfits.

But, apart from their obvious good looks, their performance was not particularly dynamic or outstanding.

Fortunately, veteran performer John Holt gave a display of ability that was worth the rousing applause that welcomed him to the stage.

With his long dreadlocks and a shimmering silver and green velvet suit, Holt was called back for an encore after he performed hits like "Police and Helicopter'' and "Stand By Me.'' Unbounded euphoria met the announcement that Spragga Benz would be next as the audience sensed the impending entrance of the 26-year-old dynamo who teased his way on stage when he began singing in the wings.

Once he appeared dressed in black boots and pants, a white long-sleeved shirt, a cap and shades, it was clear that Spragga Benz came to give the patrons value for their hard-earned money.

As the intensity of his performance reached a feverish pitch -- he at one point stripped down to only his pants displaying a taut, chiselled physique - Spragga Benz reeled off several songs from his Uncommonly Smooth album and provoked a peculiar giddy enthusiasm among some members of the gathering.

Wayne Wonder continued to build on the energy Spragga Benz had summoned so that by the time the princely, chicly-dressed Buju Banton arrived, the crowd had been primed and were brought to a shuddering frenzy of uproarious delight.

And Buju Banton did not disappoint them. With his cunningly guileful banter, the ebullient extrovert demonstrated what two years and a lot of hard work can do for a career.

Castigated in the Washington Post and on CNN for his controversial gay bashing hit Boom Bye Bye in 1993, Buju Banton's hour-long performance was studied and smooth like a well-oiled machine.

His deeply-textured, dipped-in-brandy voice combined with a fierce stare, baby dreadlocks and goatee were props he plied with maximum efficency. Buju Banton delivered a conscious, introspective and enchanting exhibition that was worth $35 all by itself.

From his new album Til Shiloh Buju Banton sang the hip-hop fuelled "Champion,'' "Til I'm Laid to Rest,''and "Not An Easy Road.'' But perhaps the definitive stamp of the new Buju Banton who has risen above the gangsterism, gunplay and violence found so often in dancehall reggae, is the song "Untold Stories'' a selection about Jamaica's poor or "low budget people, who are spending a dime while earning a nickel.'' This particular song is steeped in political and social imagery and is undoubtedly the best example of his ascending ability and commitment to Rastafarianism and his Maroon heritage.

The only criticism of an otherwise immaculate and stellar performance was that time ran out before he was able to sing his hit song "Wanna Be Loved''.

JOHN BURCHALL