Mr. Clyde Williams Atty-at-Law, member of the Peoples National Party Human Rights Group and host of the morning program ‘Today with Clyde” on HOT 102FM interviewed well respected musicologist, Shocking Vibes Entertainment Director, Digicel Rising Stars Judge and Principal of Fimi Choice Productions Mr. Clyde McKenzie on the state of Jamaican music presently given the backlash from Caribbean as well as other countries towards Jamaican dancehall artists with Guyana and Barbados the most recent territories banning several acts from visiting and performing there. Mr. McKenzie’s views are not to be overlooked and when he speaks many in the industry and media listen.
He penned a recent article calling for a truce between dancehall and the gay community calling for dialogue as a way forward, here are the posts on GLBTQ Jamaica concerning some of his opinions, he also predicted the doom that we now see where the acts themselves are now in hot water over their violent and homophobic lyrics from as far back as the mid nineties. His stance on tolerance is moderate. He commented during the interview that we as a country need to take an introspection of the situation, the perceptions of how homophobic we are as a nation and how the gay communality elsewhere sees Jamaica as a place where gays are, do we need to self regulate the music industry so as to monitor the output to the various markets? this is an issue that he is known to be passionate about, he continued that at the level of the artist they need to reflect and make certain decisions as to how they want their careers to progress as he coined it the Artistic Freedom vs. the commercial imperative.
He commented on what he calls “the problem we are having with the gay community” and perception that Jamaican is rampantly homophobic with the dancehall acts being an integral part of the mix so much so that gays are alleged to be attacked on the streets openly “We are portrayed as a society where gays are hacked down in the streets”, he said he thinks there is a great deal of misunderstanding about the Jamaican society and how we actually treat gays. The host rightly reminded the listenership and Mr. McKenzie that the acts and song content themselves advocate death thus fuelling the perception he alluded to Buju Banton’s Boom Bye Bye with other materials that suggests gays are to die.
Freedom of expression and freedom of expression
Mr. McKenzie while being careful not to condone the materials alluded to he said that the problem flowing from the perception of how homophobic we are is almost a slander to say that Jamaica is unsafe for homosexuals to walk the streets because they are constantly being attacked, that’s a matter that requires attention. The question as to what the dancehall artists are doing or have been doing towards this perception Mr. McKenzie responded that over the years the lyrical output of anti gay material has fallen dramatically in years gone by it was a feature for many acts to release such materials with regularity.
He continued that there are the artists who want to express their views through artistry or religious expression while the gay community wants their space for sexual expression as well, both gentlemen agreed that the artists or whoever cannot articulate for the violent solutions to homosexuals due to their sexual orientation and practices.
The decline of authentic reggae music was briefly examined Mr. McKenzie he said where Jamaicans are heavily concentrated overseas in the Diaspora follow dancehall but the purists in reggae form are still touring and have a fan base in other parts of the world such as Europe and Asia. The roots rock reggae acts are still active especially in the west coast of the United States. Dancehall is not the predominant form therefore overseas in as far as Jamaican music is concerned. The decline of the local vibe of pure reggae music is real but dancehall is more predominant with the side shows that distract the public giving the perception it is so.
The Ska form is resurging in Japan where young Japanese kids are following the movement but the perception that it is not an original Jamaican form of music is having a negative impact so we need to reclaim the history and ownership of the form. Lee Scratch Perry was highlighted with his oddities in the Ska form.
The induction of Jimmy Cliff in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has a positive impact on the nation and we should be proud he concluded.
The interview ends.
Peace and tolerance
H
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