Worries in the dance

 Prison Oval Promotions in association with Din Duggan Productions presents: REGGAE JAIL FEST 2k12! Live from the lawns of the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, Kingston Jamaica.  Featuring dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel, Grammy Award winning reggae superstar Buju Banton, the Energy God himself: Elephant Man, dancehall legend Ninja Man, reggae legend Denroy Morgan and many more.

Admission: Free; Gates Open: 5-10 (earlier with good behaviour).
 
Actually, now I know why I can barely find a half-decent dancehall show to attend - some of my favourite artistes are under the supervision of the state.  Prison might just be the hottest party venue since Quad and the old Asylum were jumping.  It was recently reported that in late December 2011, a group of maximum-security prison inmates, wielding cell phones and donning expensive attire, held a lavish Christmas party replete with ganja and pricey liquor.  

In a country where more than 10,000 souls have, in the past decade, lost their lives at the hands of callous criminals, it is shameful and unacceptable that the place to which these offenders are sent for punishment and rehabilitation is being treated as a joke. Never before has the saying, 'The monkeys are running the zoo', been more appropriate.

Tighten security

If this type of wholesale disdain for justice is occurring in a maximum-security institution, I can hardly imagine what occurs in less-secure facilities. Dancehall queen competitions, perhaps? I trust that Lt Col Sean Prendergast, head of the Department of Correctional Services, and National Security Minister Peter Bunting will retake control of their zoo.

I also expect that Mr Bunting and Colonel Prendergast will show the Jamaican people more respect than their warders and inmates have shown them. We eagerly await a conclusive report of disciplinary and corrective actions taken in response to this matter. Unless, of course, the minister and the colonel would rather be regarded as concert promoters rather than upholders of what little semblance of justice we have remaining.

Speaking of concert promoters, many are surely facing grave difficulties rounding out their line-ups. As the artiste Gyptian sang: "These are some serious times" in the Jamaican music industry. In fact, it is hobbling. Some of our most talented and successful artistes of the last two decades are now behind bars, convicted of or charged with a variety of serious crimes - from murder to drug trafficking to rape.

From icons to imps

In my youth - and I imagine the same is true today - we viewed reggae stars as icons. Whether consciously or otherwise, we mimicked them in many ways. Their music provided the soundtrack, and sometimes the instructional manual, for our impressionable young minds. This manual, however, has now extended beyond mere words cleverly laid atop musical tracks. Some artistes have become active participants in behaviour that promotes and perpetuates our degenerative social condition.

No wonder some commentators have declared the death of Jamaican music. This is especially unfortunate given reggae's massive global appeal. Indeed, the spirit of social consciousness that streamed from the soul of our nation, through speaker boxes and headphones and into hearts and minds across the globe, is now being claimed by non-Jamaican artistes the world over.

While our artistes languish in prisons, international acts such as German reggae superstar Gentleman and emergent Italian reggae star Albarosie - winner of the UK's MOBO Award for Best Reggae Artiste in 2011 - are touring sold-out venues across the world. Still others, including Bermudan reggae star Collie Buddz, continue to reap huge global success.

But while certain cancers ravage our music industry, our shores pack possibly the greatest wealth of musical talent, per capita, on earth. Damian, Stephen and the rest of the Marley clan unyieldingly deliver inspired, socially conscious material. Assassin (Agent Sasco) - among the most underrated dancehall artistes - constantly releases compelling music. Konshens, I-Octane, Etana, Queen Ifrica, and Tarrus Riley have proven their ability to make socially relevant, globally appealing songs.

And from the beach at Wicky Wacky in Bull Bay to the lawns of Hope Gardens, our live music scene is simmering - providing a possible antidote to the ravenous tumour growing elsewhere in the industry. No-Maddz, Rootz Underground, and Protoje are thrilling audiences, spreading the same consciousness and rhythmical ingenuity that first put reggae on the international music map.

Indeed, our music is far from dead. As long as Jamaica exists, Jamaican music will flourish. It is now up to radio station programming directors, music producers and promoters to isolate and destroy the cancer and restore health to the patient.

And for those still intent on hearing the foolishness: Reggae Jail Fest is free of charge.

Din Duggan is an attorney working as a consultant with a global legal search firm. Email him at columns@gleanerjm.com or dinduggan@gmail.com, or view his past columns at facebook.com/dinduggan and twitter.com/YoungDuggan.