Music Rebellion Declares an Emergency.

“Nuff Jamaica sinting mi miss, Nuff foreign tings sweet mi too, mi nah tell no lie, But when mi memba sweet Jamaica, Water come a mi yeye” ( Louise Bennett)

Reggae music history has its roots long before Bob Marley, but his prophetic lyrics epitomises the Jamaican identity which is currently under attack from globalisation and a transfer of the American ideals. Globalisation and the technological revolution have influenced a codification of an American ideology in the Caribbean social and cultural identity that threatens generational prosperity. 

Music has become influential in how individuals view their social world and acts as a determinant of attitudes and beliefs. Reggae Music plays an important role in Jamaican’s cultural history, it’s about ganja, dragon stout, rum and vibes with Bob Marley and Beres Hammond sweet tone playing on the sound system, as the ravers whine their waist, smiling as the music hits their soul. Unfortunately, this has changed, instead of dancing and skanking to the beat, people are now twerking, taking selfies, popping pills and bottles emulating the American music culture that does not belong in Jamaica.

The distinction between adolescence and adulthood has become compromised by the music we love and enjoy leaving a trail of broken souls and a community of lost identity. The music that was fashioned to emancipate our minds has done the opposite and enslaved our community moral capacity.

The new era of musicians has influenced an increased in dangerous plastic surgery, skin bleaching, hair extensions and a lack of musical identity and professional aspiration. A new culture and social world is conceived in the minds of the youth that conforms to fictionist characters that is presented without rationality. It’s a world that promotes financial gains by any means necessary, where exotic dancing and prostitution has become the norm fuelling a potential drug epidemic.

This phenomenon impacts on the individuals’ psychological reality and their perceptions and understanding of themselves, significant others and the world (Idowu et al., 2016; Munson & McIntyre, 1978). Influencing a new generation that values money and a cosmetically enhanced Eurocentric beauty over natural traits and hard work. The new form of music and lifestyle has presented internal conflicts relating to self-esteem that diminishes an individual experience of their social world and reality.

The promotion of self-value through music is important as it is combination of self-respect, identity, and self-esteem. Some parts of Jamaican music culture has adopted the American standard of female subjugation that erodes self-value. An exponential rise in incidents of sexual assaults and domestic violence is a reflection, of the subjugation of women in society that is glorified through rap music that exposes a system of patriarchy and a wider dysfunction culturally. 

The black male and female consciousness must be raised to develop loving and caring interaction and self-values to be inculcated with behaviours that is essential against a wider oppressive system that ghettoises and legitimises self hate amongst the black community.

Ray Town, smooth lovers rock is when dancehall was nice. Those were the days when music was inspirational, promoting community, self-love, self-value, patriotism and highlighting the struggle for justice, equality and world peace. 

“When the music hits you feel no pain” ( Bob Marley).

Author: Keithia Grant

Source : Opinion and Observation

#musicedeclaresanEmergency

#xrjamaica