Heritage, history, culture and dancehall

Groundins

By: Charles H.E. Campbell

(I've posted the original article and not the version printed in the Sunday Observer,March 13,2011 because two critical sections, which have been highlighted here, were omitted.)


I was so fascinated with what he had to say, I watched the post ‘Follow Di Arrow’ Bounty Killa ‘On Stage’ TV interview twice. Everyone knows that I’m hardly a fan of Bounty Killa, mainly because, I think in the past, some of his professional conduct and personal practices could be classified as ‘almshouse behaviour’ and have been largely discordant with our Industry’s traditional, internationally respected ethos and use of revolutionary messages to heal and teach different generations and cultures.

Like a lot of Dancehall songs which promote homophobia, misogyny and violence, the bulk of his released music does not find favour with me, even though I do admire those of his songs which have an element of conscious social commentary; using them to inform me of the prevailing mindset of our urban youth, especially in regards to the effects of society’s debilitating impact on their communities and lives.

I happen to share Clyde McKenzie’s view that we need to speed up the work on the formal creation of entertainment zones, to better regulate the industry, and restrict the intrusion of inappropriate messages into our homes. I also agree with him that, while the Broadcasting Commission has a critical role to play, and this should be broadened to cover all means of broadcasting, including sound systems and public transportation, artistes should not, per se, be regarded as appropriate role models for our impressionable young people.

In other words, parents should closely monitor, discuss with, and contextualise for their children, what is, or not acceptable, given their upbringing, and not abdicate to artistes, their ultimate responsibility for the cultural consumption of their offspring and wards.

Given his anecdotal record, for example, I find Bounty’s self-appointment as a spokes-person for a national campaign against spousal or female physical abuse, a little cynical and disconcerting. If at all, he must lead by example. Without a prior public confession, contriteness and a programme of professional, psychological assistance towards mitigating a recurrence of this abhorrent behaviour, his participation in this programme would be contrived and disingenuous.

If nothing else however, Bounty’s discourse on this occasion, was an impressive example that one doesn’t have to be able to speak the ‘Queen’s English’ to be eloquent in addressing major concerns publicly, with clarity and objectivity. I must admit, I have never before, heard him consistently speak quite so rationally, nor have I ever found myself on so much common ground with Bounty’s stated positions on such critical issues facing the Entertainment Industry in Jamaica today.




The headline for my commentary this week is actually culled from one of his responses to programme host, Winford Williams. Bounty effectively bemoaned the unfortunate fact, that in the composition of a high percentage of the music, and creation of too much of the lyrics in current Dancehall genre produced in Jamaica, there is an apparent absence of our glorious heritage, history and culture, informing and inspiring its creators. As a consequence of our society being swamped by the more powerful, materialistic, American culture, he (correctly, I think) surmises, the contemporary local out-put is more closely allied to Hip-Hop, with little potential to successfully compete against American acts - with their comparatively enormous organizational and marketing support -having lost its unique, distinguishing Caribbean beat, flavour, vibe and sound, just when the market- place is demanding it.

He was referring, of course, to countries - from the West Indies, the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean and the Far East – in which, there is growing evidence of a regional/international renaissance amongst the musician/artiste fraternity, for the classic original Jamaican Dancehall Rhythms, paralleling a similar resurgence of Roots Reggae in these markets, on the live circuit. Ironically, to hear Bounty tell it, the musical fare in our Jamaican Dancehalls is now so severely restricted, that it no longer accommodates the Roots Reggae or Lovers Rock still being recorded by some artistes here, including a young crop. This discourages the local production of these genres of music, especially from those who are involved in its creation and promotion purely for the short - term potential benefits. To our detriment however, Jamaica’s dearth of new music in these genres, simultaneously, has created a vacuum which, more and more, is being ably filled by competent musicians from the very regions referred to above.

During the Interview, Bounty also addressed the lack of morals and race pride, decrying the manifest disrespect by some Dancehall Acts, displayed to pioneering artistes among others, and the discard or rejection of the rich legacy of racial dignity bequeath us by our National Heroes, most notably, the Honourable Marcus Garvey. He has my wholehearted support in his call for a condemnation of the practice of skin-bleaching. Does no-one else think that the wide-spread practice of our women, to wear wigs, weaves or extensions daily, and their utter and continuous pre-occupation with this false hair throughout each day –you often see them beating their brains out, while the adhesive chemicals eat away at their real hair and scalp - and its admiration by men, is as disturbing a manifestation of perceived racial inferiority, given where we are coming from, with our beautiful, exotic afros and braids in the 60’s and 70’s?

On this matter though, if the society expects to see a reduction in the practice, we have stop the hypocrisy by admitting that in a nation which has a population that is 98% black, we have an in-built, systemic prejudice against people of a darker hue, with classic African features and hair. This inevitably sends the wrong message to our more ambitious women and youth, seeking social advancement, when they observe that skin colour is the only thing that differentiates them from a majority of persons who still sit at the pinnacle of power and wield influence in all spheres of our society. Be it from the economic, social, political, or religious sector, we have been bleaching our minds and victimising the majority of our citizens for a long time, almost since the ‘granting of our Independence’.

Email: che.campbell@gmail.com

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Heritage--history--culture-and-dancehall