Letter of the Day | Mend our music

THE EDITOR, Madam:

In the recent past, several of our dancehall artistes have been banned from countries of our Caribbean neighbours who gave stinging reasons of disapproval of the less-than-civilised lyrics, behaviour and influence of the artistes. Yet, our government ministers, on both sides, continue to give these artistes their support.

A female member of the public summed this up, to the approval of her audience, as “Jamaica celebrating slackness”. A male friend in my bvi (blind and visually impaired) very patriotic family also commented that, “The drivers in Jamaica now are violence and sex”. I add to these comments that nowhere in Jamaica today are these negative perspectives seen more greatly than in our music.

Earlier this year, Rev Astor Carlyle gave a prophetic ingenious sermon at the funeral of Robby Shakespeare, which went viral but apparently to no avail. After commending the many musicians who set a foundation of conscious lyrics for us to live by, Rev went on to diagnose our present malaise and give the remedy. An unhealthy variant called “subculture” has crept into our music and is fast destroying the conscious foundation.

Thankfully, the remedy is not a vaccine. Given that music is a powerful medium for learning, the remedy is a strong dose of decision by all stakeholders, “ministers, managers, producers, musicians” to “renew our music” and create lyrics that are life-giving, that promote good values and attitudes for us to live by.

I stand with Rev Astor Carlyle and other remnants of a seemingly dwindling civil society to increase the call for a renewal of our music.

CREATE A LAW

At the same time, bearing in mind that we all have rights, could there be a law to prohibit the playing of lewd music in public spaces and limit the playing of such music to one’s own personal space? If yes, how could the process be initiated? Wouldn’t such a law, along with greater enforcement of the Noise Abatement Act, be for the greater good of our society?

New legislation is often a lengthy process. In the meantime, in this our 60th year of Independence, could all of us who are on the same page agree to persistently call for the renewal of our music with life-giving lyrics so that we can have a more healthy Jamaica in which to live, work, recreate and do business? After all, 2030 is just eight years away.

M.C. BROWN (MRS)

Retired Special Educator