Buju Banton Protests Trickle Down

Apparently the ongoing protests and cancellations of Buju Banton (above), Beenie Man and Sizzla's concerts overseas are having a slow, trickle down effect at home in Jamaica. The economic impact is making some people publicly question the value of promoting homophobic lyrics.

Over the weekend in the Jamaican Gleaner, the country's leading—and often ridiculously homophobic—newspaper, a popular columnist noted: "If some of Jamaica's best known artistes cannot perform overseas, then the work of other Jamaican greats might have been in vain." Andre Jebbinson concludes his column by applauding Canada's entry requirement that artists are required to sign a contract stating they will not participate in gay bashing or inciting any violence and adds, "It is perhaps time for the record labels and promoters to stop treating the growing tumour as if it does not exist and operate before it gets worse."

Another essay took a more combative approach, but quoted a leading performer as saying "the artistes earn the bulk of their money from live performances" and suggesting they may want to "probably rethink the type of lyrics they use." Not necessarily a ringing endorsement, but yet another subtle change from the newspaper that recently warned us against "High School Girls Gone Gay!"

Gay Pressure Mounts, Artistes Out in the Cold (Gleaner)

Reggaewritesback (Gleaner)

More Buju Banton and Beenie Man:

"Jamaica, Island of Hate" (Rod 2.0)

"One Gay is Dead, What's the Difference?" (Rod 2.0)

“If You’ve Really Changed, Then Just Say It” (J Cannick)

Buju Banton Concert Cancelled (Club Rimshot)

Buju Banton Busted By The Bay (Keith Boykin)

Buju Banton Pro/Con (Rod 2.0)

Beenie Man and Buju Banton Cancelled (Rod 2.0)

Homophobia "Greatest Hurdle" in Jamaica (Rod 2.0)

Justice, Jamaican Style (Rod 2.0)

LIFEbeat Latest (Rod 2.0)

The Most Homophobic Place on Earth? (Rod 2.0)

Comments

[rob]

Of course, if you can't appeal to their moral conscience, hit
'em where it really hurts----in their pocketbook.

[Joe Jons]

Those columns are a small step in the right direction. At least those are people whom the producers and promoters will read. Once those artists go broke, they'll "rethink their lyrics."

[Ken Harper]

I'm a newer reader here. Just want to say that I really appreciate the diversity of topics. I also like how you find articles written in the foreign press. Keep up the great job.

[nahtan serious]

Dancehall centres on the current hott rhythm so that every rhythm has about 5-10 songs with the same backing beat sung by different artists. So that when Boom bye bye came out there were several other songs out ther that had the exact same beat but had different lyrics ( and most if not all of them were about other topics or than batty bwoys).

So I have never understood why the record companies felt they have to release songs with anti-gay lyrics when clearly danchall fans are moved mainly by beats and the vocal ability of the artist.

The anti-gay lyrics are not needed ... hope they get the point!

[Rod Mc]

Nathan, that's a great point. I have long been a fan of dancehall and soca and it's all about the rhythm. Probably, the record companies will realize this slowly. But the artists get more street cred if the fight the "gay lobby."

[Jim]

Jamaica is a society in which the downtrodden have come to base their self-respect on “not being faggots.” Hyper-masculinity and the readiness to kill are the respected virtues.

As in this country, the religious institutions encourage this kind of mental illness. It is way to fill the collection plates on Sunday and pay for the pastor’s fancy car.

The whole anti-gay thing has become so central to the Jamaican self-image that doing without it may be psychologically too difficult, regardless of the financial consequences.

[Doug Cooper-Spencer]

Finally someone is at least speaking to the other component of this mess- - the record labels and distributors. I've always said they should also be held accountable as well.
However, it's still sad that no one in the article was willing to address the issue head on, and that is, homophobia is a poison. A lot of work still to be done.

[dancehall]

They need to hang Buju Banton and Beanie Man, how they can claim their lyrics don't incite anti gay violence is beyond me. I'm sorry I love Reggae Dancehall music but it seems almost every single record has to include some lyrics about "Batty Man Dem" its just sick. If Elton John or George Michael made a record about killing black people the world would be up in arms and rightly so...so whats the difference here?

[Anaisnin]

I don't think one story, featuring a Reverend's personal opinion, qualifies the Gleaner as "ridiculously homophobic'.

I do agree with you however about the need for jamaicans to stop indulging the homophobia and hyper-masculinity that breeds it, especially in dancehall music.