This week we asked the man and woman in the street what their opinions were of Hits and Jams bringing Vybz Kartel and Mavado as the main performers of the regional night during the ‘Jamzone Summer Break’, despite the fact that these two artistes have been banned from performing in other Caribbean countries, and previously in Guyana. Their responses follow:
Interviews and photos by Abigail Semple and Frances Abraham
Anu George – private sector employee: ‘If other countries have rejected them then why should we accept them? First of all the music that these guys sing, youth take them literally; these songs teach most of our youth to become violent. They don’t teach them love, respect or kindness; they don’t care. So I totally do not agree with them coming to Guyana. Just the other day I heard the President dedicate this country into God’s hands. God does not stand for unrighteousness but for righteousness.’
Stephen Hall – private sector employee: ‘First of all, I don’t like their music. Most of their music is twisting the minds of young people. The music of my time was clean music, but music today degrades women and it messes with the young minds. For me I won’t be going [to Jamzone] and never will. I think their [Kartel’s and Mavado’s] music has had a bad influence on young people.’
Keith Smith – private sector employee:‘As becoming part of our culture, I like Jamzone. It is a big event and if it is a big, clean event you don’t need artistes with a record. And if most of our Caribbean countries, who are close to this type of music are rejecting them, then that should be message enough. When you give yourself or group a name like Kartel it already sends out a negative message,
because the word Kartel relates to drugs.’
Seon Gonsalves – private sector employee: ‘I won’t be going to the show, and I don’t like either artiste. The music that they’re making now is not fun music. They have a negative impact on young people; 89% speaks violence and 11% about exploitation of women.’
Lashaka St Louis – student: ‘I don’t think it will be a negative impact on everyone, because some of their songs do give off a peaceful vibe. But I just think that HJ is bringing them in to hype itself up and to make money. If other countries banned them you should look into why and if it’s bad then we should take our laws seriously.’
Charmaine McAllister:‘Per-sonally, as a Christian I don’t really care who they bring or for what purpose they are bringing them. What I really care about is our youths, whose young minds are being plagued with the negative influence of their music. I think
that we first have to get down to why they were banned from performing in other countries. Being banned from a country simply means that you had to at least break some of the laws of that country in whatever way that is. I don’t think these men should come to our country either. First of all their music has no proper influence on our young people; it degrades women, it influences the young minds to have sex. Everything about the music of these men is about sex. Now tell me what positive messages are being sent out through their music? I’ll tell you none at all.’
Karen Harris – private sector employee:‘I think that their coming to Guyana will be good. People will mostly like Vybz Kartel because he was banned from performing in Guyana back in 2009 and this will be the first time since and I hope that he makes the best out of it. Well, Mavado, he is a star boy and he comes to Guyana a lot so
he knows what the Guyanese people want and he will deliver. I am happy that they are no longer banned.’
Thrimain Sullivan – private sector employee: ‘I think it will bring more money into the country and so yes, I’m glad. The artistes will be able to go back and share their experience and sell Guyana and also this will encourage other artistes to come to our country, which will assist in generating more revenue for Guyana. Some of the lyrics are bad but yet they have made it in life and hopefully the youths will follow that trait.’
Khashia Tudor – private sector employee:‘They are just artistes and they are here to entertain us and Jamzone is a summer event and the whole of Guyana is looking forward to it. Guyana should not be intimidated at the fact that these artistes are coming because that is their life. Every
individual has to take responsibility for their own frame of mind so we can’t stop them. Sure, what they sing don’t always be respectful but some are positive vibes that speak of their life experiences; where they’ve been, who they are today and where they are going.’
Albert Bobb – private sector employee:‘They are the hot artistes right now so I don’t see why there should be a problem. The ban from 2009 was lifted so what is the problem now? I’m not in agreement of them coming to perform on one stage because that may be chaotic but I am in agreement with them coming. This will boost tourism and the whole dancehall industry carries the same kind of lyrics so there shouldn’t be any issue.’
