Local reggae singer Alabama has released three new songs that deal with the prorogation of parliament and other recent issues that he says speak to the injustice being done to the Guyanese people.
The lyrics, which were written by Alabama, who was born Clifford Charles, are raw. There is no euphemistic language or the abundance of metaphors many artists use.
The reggae songs, “Where is We President”, “Prorogue the Parliament” and “One People, One Nation, One Destiny,” were recorded at Alabama’s home in Hadfield Street, Lodge and released last week after the head of state suspended the parliament. They can be accessed online at https://soundcloud.com/clifford-alabama-charles.
When asked why he chose to compose his lyrics in such a straightforward manner, he said realism brings truth and the words were selected meticulously so his songs can send waves through the country and get his point across.
Alabama said his goal was met because his songs are being unanimously praised and not just as a work of art, but a conscious social message that’s speaking to a mass of people who are either apathetic or afraid to speak.
He said he does not fear persecution because of his strong lyrical content and if he is to be persecuted it would be by weak-minded people or people who don’t care about the country’s future.
Alabama’s strong sense of spirituality and life experiences are what keeps him from fearing any man. He is a devout Rastafarian and was incarcerated for three years. He said after he was jailed for a violent robbery in the United States, he had a lot of time to reflect on his life and the type of man he wants to be in the future.
In prison, Alabama had turned into a voracious reader and this was his main hobby. He read books from the likes of Sidney Sheldon to famous philosophers like Socrates and Aristotle.
Alabama said reading has and continues to help him evolve as an artist. He said being in prison served as an eye opener and he is grateful for the experience because without it he would not have been the artist he is today.
He believes through art a change can come to society and he gave examples to back this up. He spoke about the One Love Peace Concert done by Bob Marley in the 1970s, when the two major Jamaican parties had been at loggerheads and violence in the country was rampant. He said it was at this musical concert that enemies united and that’s the power art has, “it has the ability to change a broken society.”
The song “Where is We President” samples from the Attorney General Anil Nandlall/Kaieteur News reporter Leonard Gildharie taped conversation, before asking, “We want to know where is we president” in all this. Alabama said the President being elusive on critical issues is a concern of his and the reason for making this song.
“Prorogue the Parliament” speaks not only about the prorogation by President Donald Ramotar, but the many scandals and questionable decisions his administration has made.
Some of the issues he focused on in his song were Works Minister’s Robeson Benn call to move water vendors off a certain street. It questions the decision to prorogue Parliament even though, the government is a minority and the opposition represents 51% of the population.
It refers to the ‘because we care campaign’ as a complete lie and something that is full of self-interest.
In “One People, One Nation, One Destiny,” Alabama called for peace and unity among all Guyanese.
He said the prorogation of parliament affects us all and it may be hard to deal with such an unjust decision, but we are one people and we must face this and do our protesting in peace and not resort to violence. (Rae Wiltshire)
