Broadcasting Commission executive Director Cordel Green was in a no-nonsense mood when he spoke at the launch of Benjy Myaz′ album ′You′ve Got Me′ on Wednesday night. Speaking to an attentive audience at the Waterfalls, Liguanea, St Andrew
, he said, "I begin to wonder if this album will get its true critical acclaim and exposure." This is in a situation where the focus is on a feud between two deejays, with talented artistes reduced to mere footnotes.
That feud is, of course, the Gully-Gaza affair between Mavado and Vybz Kartel. And Green went on to make it clear that he would not be party to giving the two and their conflict more traction in the society. He said that his presence had been requested at Parliament next Tuesday to further examine the matter but he would not do so, refusing to feed into a critical and irresponsibly dangerous cycle.
Green also said that he rejects "the spurious argument that artistes should simply give the people what they want to eat a food
or reflect what is happening in the society".
"Artistes do not only reflect. They influence. If it was otherwise they would not be as influential as they are," Green said.
He said that when he was preparing to speak at the launch, Bob Marley′s Zimbabwe came to mind, proposing that it is applicable in Jamaica today, especially to the leaders of popular culture. Green quoted from Zimbabwe, returning to the line "soon we′ll find out who is the real revolutionary" a few times and closing with "I don′t want my people to be tricked by mercenaries".
"Today, there are mercenaries in the leadership of Jamaica′s popular culture," Green said, those persons pursuing personal ends and self-aggrandisement. And while they do so, the hungry are being fed vinegar for wine and stone for bread.
"That is injustice," Green said.
Still, as was the situation with Mussolini and Hitler, the people will soon find out who are the true revolutionaries and who are the mercenaries.
, he said, "I begin to wonder if this album will get its true critical acclaim and exposure." This is in a situation where the focus is on a feud between two deejays, with talented artistes reduced to mere footnotes.
That feud is, of course, the Gully-Gaza affair between Mavado and Vybz Kartel. And Green went on to make it clear that he would not be party to giving the two and their conflict more traction in the society. He said that his presence had been requested at Parliament next Tuesday to further examine the matter but he would not do so, refusing to feed into a critical and irresponsibly dangerous cycle.
Green also said that he rejects "the spurious argument that artistes should simply give the people what they want to eat a food
or reflect what is happening in the society".
"Artistes do not only reflect. They influence. If it was otherwise they would not be as influential as they are," Green said.
He said that when he was preparing to speak at the launch, Bob Marley′s Zimbabwe came to mind, proposing that it is applicable in Jamaica today, especially to the leaders of popular culture. Green quoted from Zimbabwe, returning to the line "soon we′ll find out who is the real revolutionary" a few times and closing with "I don′t want my people to be tricked by mercenaries".
"Today, there are mercenaries in the leadership of Jamaica′s popular culture," Green said, those persons pursuing personal ends and self-aggrandisement. And while they do so, the hungry are being fed vinegar for wine and stone for bread.
"That is injustice," Green said.
Still, as was the situation with Mussolini and Hitler, the people will soon find out who are the true revolutionaries and who are the mercenaries.
