Culture Box
“It’s a #$%%^ affair gal siddung pon mi ^&*& like chair
Gal nuh u did a say dat dey nuh fair
Now u a bawl ah say de ^&* jaw tear
Wan mek a run but mi cab inna de air
Fling her pon de ground and put she foot inna de air
^&((^&^ inna belly plus de boots dun prepare
Peer noise a mek all de neighbour ah hear
Gangsta nuh care”
So goes some of the less explicit lyrics in Jamaican dancehall star, Mavado’s “Squeeze Breast” song. The composition on the whole is about rough sex with emphasis on the sexual act. And this is what Guyanese, at least the section who opt to go, will more than likely be entertained by come September 19.
But it is not only this. From his repertoire, the artiste will presumably sing his songs that glorify violence, among other things. How did we get to this point? There was a sense of relief in some quarters when the controversial artiste as well as Bounty Killer was banned from performing here back in April 2008. “Bounty Killer will not enter this jurisdiction [nor will] Mavado,” proclaimed Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee at the time. He had labelled Mavado a security risk.
No more it seems. The forbidden fruit has been deemed good enough. The unacceptable now acceptable. But any change or rehabilitation that Movado had gone through has escaped us. How was the so-called “security risk” neutralized?
But we really should not be surprised. After all, we live in Guyana.
However, what we would like to know is where the line is drawn? If songs that call for murder and glorify violence are acceptable for public consumption in public places then what is unacceptable? We have no issue with those who play such songs in the privacy of their home. It is their right and privilege.
What we have a problem with is being subjected to such content blaring from music carts on the street, in public transportation and at public events. In a recent ‘What the people say’ feature in this newspaper, almost all of the respondents (who were asked about their views on television programmes) described some programmes as not “healthy” for young people (or anyone). They used words and phrases such as “garbage”, “disgusting”, “not worth viewing”, “full of hatred, separation and violence”, “total junk”, “real eyesore”, “filthy”, “immoral”, “senseless” and “utter nonsense”, to describe some programmes. They noted that television has a big influence on young people and acknowledged that it is a medium through which they can be effectively reached out to.
They said programmes that will positively impact their lives and serve as a meaningful supplement to what ever they would have been thought in school, be shown. According to one, by taking such measures, the moral and social fabric of society will be protected. The same can be said about music.
Mavado and other artistes have been banned from performing in some Caribbean jurisdictions and in Europe over their controversial lyrics. For a while Guyana took a stand too. But maybe Mavado really underwent some changes and will sing about peace, love and harmony.
We doubt it. As he said, “gansta nuh care”. Unfortunately, it seems that very few of us do. (thescene@stabroeknews.com)
