Beverley Anderson -Manley
" ... Come let's face it, a gheto education's basic,
And most a the youths them waste it,
And when they waste it, that's when they take the guns and replace it,
Then them don't stand a chance at all
And that's why a nuff little youth have up some fat matic
With the extra magazine inna them back pocket
And have leisure night time inna some black jacket ... "
JUNIOR GONG'S song has been playing on and on inside my head as the poignant, haunting sound of his voice commands me to listen to what is indeed the underbelly of 'JamRock' - Jamaica, Land we Love.
It is all there in the music - in the pulsating rhythms, the energy, the anti-social behaviour, the choices being made by young men between education and the gun - and the recurring theme taken from another decade - the 1970's - 'Out In The Streets They Call It Murder - and it is 'Murder' - figuratively and literally.
The song continues to play in my head not only because I keep listening to the CD but because I saw him perform it 'live' at King's House during the world class Third World Concert on Tuesday night. There is an air of innocence about him. He seems so slight yet with such powerful words and insights emanating from him - this son of Bob Marley and Cindy Breakspeare. His birth - a revolutionary concept in a country as class-ridden as Jamaica.
THE POWER OF LANGUAGE
Watching and listening to him I was reminded of when I was a Prime Minister's wife and mature student at the University of the West Indies in the 1970s pursuing a first degree. My class and race consciousness was enhanced not so much by the political subjects and conversations of which there were many, but by the west indian literature experience under the tutelage of prolific writers like Mervyn Morris, Eddie Brathwaite and Eddie Baugh. What a creative time that was, as I learned the power of words and the wisdom to not only listen to language but to write it and allow it to flow out of you and to interpret it and unpack it - and then to have the wisdom to know and understand the underbelly of the language.
THE UNDERBELLY OF OUR CULTURE
As this underbelly of our culture spreads throughout Jamaica and the world in poetry, song and dance - in what is often termed an alternative culture - let us have the commonsense to listen and to understand that this too is 'Jamrock'. The good news is that the energy is there, the creative imagination is there - what is missing are the many leaders, the conductors of the 'JamRock' orchestra who will bring the many musical instruments together into an extraordinary symphony that works for everyone.
My request is that those of us who silently want to exercise leadership do so now, as we approach yet another year. Let us do so if only because the times demand it and we must do it. Out In the Streets They Call It Murder - over 1650 murders this year mostly by persons who knew each other and the weapon of choice is the gun. As a result of this Jamaica now has the reputation as the 'murder capital of the world' - ahead of South Africa and Colombia.
As Welcome to JamRock reminds us ...
"All who not lock glocks, them a lock rocket
If they run outa rounds a brought back ratchet
Then will full you up a current like a short circuit
Them a run a roadblock which part the cops block it
And from now till a morning not stop clock it."
Yes - this is how we are now but just think of who we could become.
'JAMAICA, JAMAICA'
Towards the end of the song, Junior Gong wails - "Jamaica, Jamaica - Jamaica, Jamaica - Jamaica, Jamaica - Jamaica, Jamaica".
Here's to a courageous, caring and loving New Year. In the words of Junior Gong's father Bob Marley - One Love, One Heart, Let's Get together and feel alright".
Beverley Anderson-Manley is a broadcaster, gender specialist and political scientist. Email: Bmanley@kasnet.com
