Songs reflect what’s happening in society
Published:Tuesday | November 1, 2022 | 12:08 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
Frederic G. Cassidy (1971) wrote that in Jamaica “the line between religion and superstition can hardly be drawn”. Both uninitiated and believer can experience an ‘anointing’, not knowing the difference between entertainment, ‘shref-shref’ or God’s Holy Spirit. Our timidness often equates anyone with ‘a word’, as a ‘prophet’; even if the ‘word’ emerged from the “imagination of their hearts!’
The ‘unusual disturbances’ at Oberlin High in St Andrew and John Rollins Success Primary in St James are not new. The late Canon Ernle Gordon was called to provide both spiritual counselling and perform exorcism at a few schools where devotions, or ‘workings’, were held that unleashed spirit possession – not by J. Wray and his Nephew nor the Holy Spirit.
During the unabated political tribalism of the middle ‘70s to late ‘80s, mainline churches retreated while American Pentecostalism, non-denominationalism and the confirmation of local Afro-cults not allied to Christian churches, though often naming themselves after them, gained acceptability and respectability in Jamaica.
Such spiritual shifts coincided with the liberation cries from reggae. As the Church retreated, Bob Marley shouted, “How long shall they kill our prophets, While we stand aside and look?” as his Redemption Song (1979) emphatically protested against discrimination. He used his music to bring to the forefront the oppression of the people of African descent. Some nine years later, Bunny Wailer’s Liberation (1989) echoed the economic purgatory of the dispossessed:
“If you are living in a marketplace
And you’re no buyer or seller.
You’ll find yourself left in space
Subject to be bought or sold.…”
While the emerging religious groups looked for ‘milk and honey’ in the skies, the emergence of dancehall music lamented the state of being and social environment faced by many who were economically dispossessed: Dancehall deejay Skillibeng’s Coke lyrics, Vybz Kartel’s Gun Clown and Alkaline’s Side Chick reflected the rise of substance abuse, gun culture and matie relations and sex. THE STAR had a headline on May 21, 2019, ‘Artistes turn to ‘guard rings’ for success and protection’.
Despite a ban on certain songs “not fit for public airwaves”, these continue to penetrate ears in overcrowded route taxis and minibuses with sexually explicit lyrics that would make any brothel a sterile place of safety.
The songs or laments of our artistes reveal what is happening on the ground, but who is listening to the cries of the people? It’s not too late to open our ears and eyes, and act to save our nation.
DUDLEY MCLEAN II
Mandeville, Manchester