The playing of reggae and dancehall music has been suspended in
Barbados. The suspension began on June 1 and will end in the first week
of August to facilitate Crop Over.
Those that control the
policies of the Barbados music industry are hoping that Bajans will be
consuming more of their culture from the media during that period.
The
Gleaner contacted members of Jamaica's music industry to get their
opinion on the ban and, interestingly, the move has been applauded.
According
to promoter/artiste manager Heavy D, Jamaica needs to pay more
attention to its genres instead of focusing its attention on foreign
music.
"I see Barbados lock off reggae and dancehall. I called to
promote a song and they told me reggae and dancehall will not be played
during this season. Suh why Jamaica can't duh dat? Wi love to fight
against our own t'ings too much. If Barbados government can get involved
and ban outside music for three months, why we can't even do it for one
month straight and showcase musicians, reggae and dancehall?" Heavy D
said.
Ruddy Isaacs, brother and former manager of late reggae
icon, Gregory Isaacs, shares a similar view. He believes the Jamaican
government should be more involved in regulating the amount of foreign
music played on local radio.
However, artistes should also defend their work.
"I
support Barbados and this move to play neither reggae nor dancehall.
It's now time for us to do the same thing in Reggae Month and on Reggae
Day. I think the artistes need to start standing up for themselves
because our local radio not playing reggae enough to make an
impact.
The only time most of these reggae artistes have mouth is when they are
speaking out against homosexuality. Barbados is looking out for their
culture because they can't afford to allow dancehall and reggae to
upstage them during their festive season," he said.
Isaacs also
blasted the Jamaican government, which he says is only focused on
turning off entertainment events instead of contributing to their
preservation and development.
"It's up to us to protect our
culture; the government should take a page from Barbados' book. They
keep talking about Brand Jamaica. But what are they doing except walk
and lock down dance at midnight? Right now Jamaica pays more royalties
to foreign music than it does local music. A things like dat dem fi sort
out," Isaacs said.
In the meantime, Bajan disc jockey 'DJ
Indian' says the suspension of reggae and dancehall music is not
intended to be disrespectful to Jamaican music.
"This
policy has been around for years. We are paying attention to our own
local music during Crop Over. It brings in tourists and builds the
carnival feeling. Already we see where it is working, because it gets
people into the carnival mood, so right now it's 100 per cent soca. I
would not keep a reggae show in Barbados during this season, because it
wouldn't work. We might feature Aidonia or RDX, but aside from that,
it's just soca. It's nothing to be taken personally by Jamaicans, but every country has their rules. Reggae rules our airwaves for the rest of the year," the 98.7 FM Bajan DJ said.
Andrea
Davis, the organiser of International Reggae Day, observed annually on
the first of July, also supported the move by the Bajans.
She
pointed out that the media in other Caribbean islands have recognised
the need to protect their culture, especially during the climax of their
respective festive seasons.
She pointed out that the Government
of Jamaica and the Broadcasting Commission share the responsibility of
advocating on behalf of Jamaica's creativity and entrepreneurs.
According to Davis, whether through
strategic alliances
or compulsory means, their role is to ensure that Jamaican music does
not become lost in globalisation, technological and/or cultural
revolutions.
media appeal
Davis is, therefore, encouraging the Jamaican media to make an effort to endorse Jamaican music on International Reggae Day.
"International Reggae Day, July 1, invites all media and all Jamaicans
to wear their reggae colours and do their part to protect, preserve,
promote, and celebrate the best of Jamaica's music and its impact on the world with your favourite media house," said Davis.
"I
do believe that Jamaican media should embrace the opportunity presented
by International Reggae Day and Reggae Month to saturate the
'ear-space' with airplay worthy music from all the sounds of Jamaica —
ska, rocksteady, reggae, dancehall, nyabinghi, kumina, mento, and our
own interpretations of
gospel, jazz and rock," she said.
Crop
Over is a traditional festival which began in Barbados, having had its
early beginnings on the sugar cane plantations during the colonial
period. The festival was originally a celebration signalling the end of
the yearly sugar cane harvest. However, it has since evolved into
Barbados' biggest national festival, similar to carnivals in Trinidad
and Brazil.
Crop Over begins in June and runs until the first
Monday in August. For the duration of the Crop Over season, soca/calypso
music is usually the dominating genre.
