THE EDITOR, Sir:The real 'new breed of female artistes' in Jamaica's reggae and dancehall has nothing to do with the 'evolution of a 'new' image but with their new and fresh message. It has to do with their witty revolution against the stale and impotent message of the aging mullahs and popes in the dancehall.
These bible-thumping bobo-morons behave like the ayatollahs in Iran and the Pope in Rome when they endlessly spread the traditions and customs of an half-nomadic barbarian tribe of the Middle East 1000 B.C. And female artistes in a country where still between 30 and 50 per cent of women experience no satisfaction in their bedrooms have a duty to rebel and to speak out. Thus Lady Saw, Cecile, Tanya Stephens and other singers and DJs are successful because they bring the true MESSAGE.
When Jon Baker states, "style and image are important" he just copycats the US-American scene where "tits & butts" are more important than the quality of singers, where even white starlets implant silicone in lips and buttocks to look sexy like their black counterparts.
The greatest of the crop of female artistes with the most star qualities is Queen I-Frica who does not only have the most powerful voice (in a small body) but the most important message of them all. In high-heels she entered the stage of East-Fest on X-mas night to slip out of them some minutes later saying "They said they make me look more feminine":
For born artistes and geniuses (like Bob Marley and this Queen) THE MESSAGE IS IMPORTANT NOT THE PACKAGING.
I am etc.,
PEPE ZAHL
Rose Hill,
Long Bay P.O., Portland
