In the January 21 – 27th edition of the Tabloid newspaper The Xnews has again taken a swipe at the GLBT activist movement with the Headline as outlined above. The lengthy piece took up two pages as they went into detail of the actions taken by selected German authorities against harmful music, x-rated materials, violent videos and extremist music.The Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons a department in the government of Germany deliberated on whether or not to jump onto the Stop Murder Music Campaign. “Children and young people need to be protected from right winged extreme music hence the reason why (BPJM) indexes films, games and music, they also seek to educate the public on the importance of protecting minors from dangerous media.” According to the BPJM’s website.
The article continued that the BPJM has plans to monitor specific artists by limiting their CD distribution and possible full ban and removal of said materials from the market altogether. Last year the leader of the green party parliamentary group, one Mr. Volker Beck called on large internet sellers to begin removing the CDs in question from their sales inventory.
“Those in Jamaica who invoke hatred should not earn money with their music in Germany.” Beck said
In February there will be a panel discussion under the theme “Against Homophobia in art – but how? With invited representatives from politics, gay and lesbian groups, artist management and promoters.
“People will be discussing sustaining measures against homophobia in art. Our aim is to develop lasting strategies for the handling of controversial artistes between prohibition and dialogue” a quoted from a release Xnews said.
Since serious actions like the deportation of Sizzla after his arrest in Spain in 2008 and the visa problems faced by other acts like Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel and Busy Signal and the most recent episode with Buju Banton in the United States many artists have almost become
endangered species on the music scene as their material has become difficult to sell in some of these harsh territories.“Dancehall artistes are being crippled by the violent tone of their music, countries are not accepting what they are selling. The question we need to ask ourselves is how can we the producers, the media, disc jockeys mold our artistes into good world citizens? Are the government and other stake holders willing to protect the industry for future generations?” Jeffrey Stephenson was quoted by the XtraNews.
The article continues by talking about the previous style of reggae where the messages were clean about love, respect and Rastafari. Mention was made of the Mayor of Berlin being openly gay and that he opposes the music altogether. The Europeans are not allowing any form of music whatsoever that evokes or incites violence in their territory.
Anthony B is quoted to have said that Reggae has gone off message and doesn’t highlight the positives about Jamaica, food, sea sand and sun. In Europe the older artists are said to have the pulling power more than the artistes who now attract negative publicity. One insder was quoted as saying that the ban may not just be about anti gay music but also the messages about politics and antiwar sentiments which may be having an impact on the youth in parts of Europe.
Peace & Tolerance
H
Well, I found this to be a reasonable piece of reporting, apart from the headline and some digs at the gay community for "badgering" Jamaican artists.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings about this. I am against censorship, but during Buju's tour, I was a strong supporter of the drive to get clubs not to give him a stage. But that was a grass roots campaign. Also, there is the issue of whether some of the songs go as far as incitement to murder - which some argue they do - which raises legal issues.
I think change is coming to Jamaica, mainly due to outside pressure, both political and economic. It will be interesting to watch.