Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Rastafari Music Provides a Challenge to White Society
The controversy between the religious/political message of rasta dancehall reggae and its detractors has now come to a head. Conscious Rasta singers such as Buju Banton and Capleton have vowed to maintain conscious and positive lyrics. The challenge is to White Society whether they shall collectively allow the radical expression of these "third world black men" Rasta musicians, deejays and artists.
Buju's Tour On!
BUJU BANTON'S FIRST tour of England since his ban was lifted is facing heat, but the deejay is pushing on with apparent support from both gays and non gays in England.
Reports from England say that the deejay has faced protests since being on a stint in England which began on the weekend, but his shows are continuing nonetheless.
Buju's manager Donovan Germaine, was unavailable for comment up to press time yesterday.
Buju reportedly performed at the Kol Hakuppa bash at Palmahim Beach in Jerusalem last Thursday, followed up on the weekend at different English venues, and is due to perform at the Bierkeller in the city of Manchester tomorrow (September 23). Both he and his band however will play to a blend of apprecitaive fans and angry gay protestors. Gay protestors are fuming about his appearance there.
The city's local media have published reports about the protests planned for Buju. The online version of the Manchester News reported on Monday that gays plan to protest against the artiste's appearance at the venue, and that the Manchester City Council has also intervened, even though the show seems set to go on anyway.
"...John Pullan, the city council's licencing chief, has written to the venue's bosses asking them to "reconsider the appropriateness" of the concert. Mr Pullan has also contacted the police and the council's equality unit but is ultimately powerless to stop the gig going ahead."
While they lobby to prevent the show which seems set to go on, users of that particular news service have let their opinions known. Both gays and non gays who support Buju have voiced their opinions on the newspaper's website. One supporter from Trinidad writes:
"Buju Banton's music is wide-ranging and encompasses much more than Boom Bye Bye. He should not be advocating violence against gays, but banning him won't stop other Jamaicans from beating up and abusing gays back home."
Their hatred
Other supporters however are more militant in their views. "Leave Buju alone, he has a right to say what he wants to say even if you or I don't agree," declares one supporter from the United States. "I don't agree with bigots and their hatred, but I respect their right to express themselves. It is their own ignorance that will eventually finish them off!" he continues.
One gay supporter agrees with this view. "I'm gay and couldnt agree with you more. These gay rights nutters give us all such a bad name!!!" the person writes.
Another militant Buju fan claims that gays in England have freedom to criticize others, yet musicians do not have that freedom. He makes reference to a gay parade in July where gays painted nail polish, lipstick and eye-liner on the pictures of Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, Beenie Man and Buju.
"So it is okay for the homosexual community to have a parade and festival over ten days to get their message across, but when it is a musician wanting to put his own personal message across in a concert they want him banned - what a bunch of hypocrites. They complain about being accepted for what they are, so why can't others. Whatever happened to free speech?"
BUJU BANTON'S FIRST tour of England since his ban was lifted is facing heat, but the deejay is pushing on with apparent support from both gays and non gays in England.
Reports from England say that the deejay has faced protests since being on a stint in England which began on the weekend, but his shows are continuing nonetheless.
Buju's manager Donovan Germaine, was unavailable for comment up to press time yesterday.
Buju reportedly performed at the Kol Hakuppa bash at Palmahim Beach in Jerusalem last Thursday, followed up on the weekend at different English venues, and is due to perform at the Bierkeller in the city of Manchester tomorrow (September 23). Both he and his band however will play to a blend of apprecitaive fans and angry gay protestors. Gay protestors are fuming about his appearance there.
The city's local media have published reports about the protests planned for Buju. The online version of the Manchester News reported on Monday that gays plan to protest against the artiste's appearance at the venue, and that the Manchester City Council has also intervened, even though the show seems set to go on anyway.
"...John Pullan, the city council's licencing chief, has written to the venue's bosses asking them to "reconsider the appropriateness" of the concert. Mr Pullan has also contacted the police and the council's equality unit but is ultimately powerless to stop the gig going ahead."
While they lobby to prevent the show which seems set to go on, users of that particular news service have let their opinions known. Both gays and non gays who support Buju have voiced their opinions on the newspaper's website. One supporter from Trinidad writes:
"Buju Banton's music is wide-ranging and encompasses much more than Boom Bye Bye. He should not be advocating violence against gays, but banning him won't stop other Jamaicans from beating up and abusing gays back home."
Their hatred
Other supporters however are more militant in their views. "Leave Buju alone, he has a right to say what he wants to say even if you or I don't agree," declares one supporter from the United States. "I don't agree with bigots and their hatred, but I respect their right to express themselves. It is their own ignorance that will eventually finish them off!" he continues.
One gay supporter agrees with this view. "I'm gay and couldnt agree with you more. These gay rights nutters give us all such a bad name!!!" the person writes.
Another militant Buju fan claims that gays in England have freedom to criticize others, yet musicians do not have that freedom. He makes reference to a gay parade in July where gays painted nail polish, lipstick and eye-liner on the pictures of Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, Beenie Man and Buju.
"So it is okay for the homosexual community to have a parade and festival over ten days to get their message across, but when it is a musician wanting to put his own personal message across in a concert they want him banned - what a bunch of hypocrites. They complain about being accepted for what they are, so why can't others. Whatever happened to free speech?"
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$205.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network
First off, I don't think "freedom of speech" should cover explicitly or implicitly violent anti-gay hate speech. Your right to speak freely stops where it harms others. Some dancehall lyrics are undeniably harmful to queer people. So I don't think "freedom of speech" works as a defense of these guys, because I don't think there's an innate human right to sing about killing "batty bwoys". Still, I'm not a god, and I'd be very uncomfortable with myself or anyone else getting to decide who gets to say what and then imposing that decision by force. I think censorship, especially when it comes to art/music, is very dangerous.
I also disagree with those who think protesting these artists is the best way to go about changing things. For the most part, the lyrics of conscious reggae musicians such as Capleton and Buju banton are very wholesome. They are also providing an outlet of expression against white supremacy and Western colonialism in the third world. This kind of expression has always been part of the reggae tradition, a proud heritage indeed. I agree with those who have said that trying to silence these voices is very damaging to the cause of global justice, and personally, I think it reeks of racism.
I would suggest instead of reacting with protest, we try to reach out and talk with these guys and try to convince them to change their views. The white racist, sexist, homophobic power structure seeks to divide progressives and radicals. We should find ways to unite together. Most reggae musicians are fairly progressive people. yes, they have flaws, and we should confront those flaws head on, but in a way like we would do among friends, not among enemies. If we end up deciding that boycotting a musician, for example, is the best way to reach them, that's fine, but I don't think we should jump to do so. Let's try and approach this issue carefully, at least.
Jamaica like much of the third world has a very homophobic culture. This culture isn't serving the interests of the poor and oppressed. We need to work on changing that culture, and we're not going to do that by personally attacking those very poor and oppressed people. Instead, we should confront them in a friendly way and attempt to reason with them. This strategy has the potential to make us even stronger instead of weaker and more divided. Also, we should encourage reggae acts that don't support homophobia as part of a strategy of developing ties across cultural and ethnic divides. Lastly, but certainly not least importantly, we must support the struggles of queer people for equal rights, dignity, and liberation in Jamaica and throughout the third world. There are groups such as Jamaica's JFLAG who are doing this. We should support them.
this is a pathetic attempt to shore up this dead music
"rasta iz lost-a" lay it to rest