Aktuelles Album: “Children Of Jah“

Sizzla Kalonji ist der bedeutendste Reggaekünstler seit Bob Marley.
Seine unerschöpfliche Kreativität, die auf über 30 Alben und zahllosen Singles dokumentiert ist, sowie die beispiellose Intensität mit der er ein unbegrenztes Spektrum an Emotionen wiedergibt, lassen auf ein musikalisches Talent schliessen, wie es bislang nur der „King“ und vielleicht einige wenige wie der „Crown Prince“ Dennis Brown oder Garnett Silk gehabt haben.

Das Musikbüro der Roten Fabrik beschäftigt sich schon lange mit dem Thema Homophobie in Reggae und Dancehall, deshalb arbeiten wir für unsere Reggae Veranstaltungen vorwiegend mit der britischen Tournee-Agentur Pride Music von Eddie Brown zusammen, die sich mit der Schwulenorganisation OutRage! massgeblich am Zustandekommen des sogenannten „The Reggae Compassionate Act“ beteiligt hat und diesen vorantreibt.

Wir stehen für den Dialog von Kulturen, Toleranz und Verantwortung. Wir lehnen grundlegend jegliche Diskriminierung ab. Wir legen in unseren Absprachen und Verträgen mit Reggae Künstlern fest, dass Diskriminierung in Text und Aufführung nicht akzeptiert wird. Deshalb engagieren wir keine der „murder music artists“, die den Reggae Compassionate Act nicht unterschrieben haben.

Durch den Dialog über den „Reggae Compassionate Act“ und die harte Vertragslage wurde gerade bei berühmteren jamaikanischen Künstlern eine stetige Auseinandersetzung mit dem Thema erreicht, was hoffentlich in näherer Zukunft ein Umdenken zur Folge haben wird. Wir glauben fest daran, dass Verbote allein dies nicht geschafft hätten.
Wir sind uns bewusst, dass der „Reggae Compassionate Act“ keine Ideallösung ist. Dennoch bedeutet er mehr als ein Lippenbekenntnis. Die Vereinbarung ist ein Teilerfolg. Sie trägt der Einsicht Rechnung, dass die öffentliche Äusserung meschenverachtender Inhalte der zentrale Punkt ist, der unterbunden werden muss. Werthaltungen und Stereotypen sind nicht einfach gegeben, sondern sie entstehen durch ihr Formulieren, Aufnehmen und Weitertragen. Die Aushandelung eines solchen Rahmens der Äusserungsmöglichkeiten, für den der „Reggae Compassionate Act“ ein Beispiel darstellt, geschieht auf verschiedenen Ebenen: in den Verhandlungen zwischen Künstlern und VeranstalterInnen, aber auch in der medialen Auseinandersetzung – wozu auch die hier vorliegende Kontroverse gehört – ; und nicht zuletzt spielt die Öffentlichkeit selbst, nämlich das Konzertpublikum, eine entscheidende Rolle. Es ist uns klar, dass diese Auseinandersetzung mit Schwierigkeiten verbunden ist. Aber es sind gerade diese mühsamen Schritte, die einen grossen Teil des Kulturbegriffs ausmachen, dem sich die Rote Fabrik verpflichtet sieht. Wie es das Leitbild der Roten Fabrik festhält, bedeutet in der Roten Fabrik „Kultur alles, was dem Individuum erlaubt, sich gegenüber der Welt, der Gesellschaft (...) zurechtzufinden; alles, was dazu führt, dass der Mensch seine Lage besser begreift, um sie unter Umständen verändern zu können. Das kann zu Auseinandersetzungen führen, doch muss der Respekt vor einer Pluralität von Lebensäusserungen die verschiedensten kulturellen und gesellschaftlichen Auffassungen nebeneinander gelten lassen.“

The Reggae Compassionate Act


We, the artists of the Reggae community, hereby present this letter as a symbol of our dedication to the guiding principles of Reggae’s enduring foundation ONE LOVE. Throughout time, Reggae has been recognized as a healing remedy and an agent of positive social change.
We will continue this proud and righteous tradition.

Reggae Artists and their music have fought against injustices, inequalities, poverty and violence even while enduring some of those same circumstances themselves. Over the years, reggae music has become popularized and enjoyed by an unprecedented audience all over the world. Artists of the Reggae Community respect and uphold the rights of all individuals to live without fear of hatred and violence due to their religion, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or gender.

While we recognize that our artistic community comprises many different individuals who express themselves in different ways and hold a myriad of beliefs, we believe firmly that the way forward lies in tolerance. Everyone can keep his own conviction and we must receive respect for our freedom of speech as far as we respect the law, but it must be clear there’s no space in the music community for hatred and prejudice, including no place for racism, violence, sexism or homophobia.

We do not encourage nor minister to HATE but rather uphold a philosophy of LOVE, RESPECT and UNDERSTANDING towards all human beings as the cornerstone of reggae music.

This Compassionate Act is hereby calling on a return to the following principles as the guiding vision for the future of a healthy Reggae music community:

· Positive Vibrations
· Consciousness raising
· Social and Civic Engagement
· Democracy and Freedom
· Peace and Non-Violence
· Mother Nature
· Equal Rights and Justice
· One Love
· Individual Rights
· Humanity
· Tolerance and Understanding


We, as artists, are committed to a holistic and healthy existence in the world, and to respect to the utmost the human and natural world. We pledge that our music will continue to contribute positively to the world dialogue on peace, respect and justice for all.

To this end, we agree to not make statements or perform songs that incite hatred or violence against anyone from any community.

ONE LOVE



Reggae tips - Stars dump anti-gay lyrics

Top Jamaican singers have signed a deal to renounce homophobic hatred and halt 'murder music' - but do they really mean it?

By Peter Tatchell

The Guardian – Comment Is Free – 2 August 2007

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/peter_tatchell/2007/08/reggae_tips.html


Four of the world’s top reggae / dancehall singers have renounced homophobic hatred and condemned violence against lesbians and gay men. Jamaican artists Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Sizzla and Capleton had previously released murder music songs inciting the shooting, burning, hanging and drowning of queers.

See their “kill queers” lyrics here:
http://www.petertatchell.net/popmusic/Dancehall-Dossier-FINAL.pdf

In a dramatic about turn, they have now signed the Reggae Compassionate Act (RCA), agreeing to halt their homophobia.

The deal was brokered by the UK gay rights groups OutRage! and the Black Gay Mens Advisory Group, together with the Jamaican gay rights movement, J-Flag and the UK reggae promoter and PR, Eddie Brown of Pride Music International.

It follows the three-year-long Stop Murder Music campaign, which resulted in the cancellation of scores of concerts and sponsorship deals; causing the singers a loss income in the region of £2.5 million. We hit them in the pocket. The boycott campaign worked.

Following publicity about the deal in Jamaica, Buju Banton and Beenie Man have denied signing the Reggae Compassionate Act.

The two singers have, it seems, buckled under pressure. They’ve suffered a homophobic backlash from their fans in Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean, over the fact that they signed the deal. The singers could not take the flak.

Their denials are nonsense. We have their signatures on the agreement. They signed under their real, legal names (as opposed to their stage names). The signatures have been authenticated as genuine.

See the RCA and their signatures here:
http://www.petertatchell.net/popmusic/reggaecompassionatescan.htm

This attempt to deny they have signed the Reggae Compassionate Act only makes the artists look dishonest and duplicitous.

Their signatures were obtained by Eddie Brown. Last week Buju’s and Beenie’s management reconfirmed to Eddie Brown that the two singers had signed and that their signatures are authentic.

Much more important than the non-issue of the signatures is question whether the artists signed the agreement because they recognise that homophobia is wrong. Many people are sceptical. They say the real motive is money-making. With so many of their concerts axed, the singers realised that promoting violence against gay people was bad for business. They have now, it is suggested, cynically and opportunistically changed their tune to save their careers and their concerts.

But even if the artists did sign the Reggae Compassionate Act for self-interested commercial reasons, it is still a major achievement if they cease their murder music. The deal is already beginning to have a positive impact in Jamaica and the Caribbean, reducing the performance and airplay of homophobic lyrics.

Moreover, the media coverage of the agreement has generated lots of public awareness and debate about homophobia; helping to break down ignorance and prejudice.

Having these major reggae stars publicly renounce homophobia will, over time, influence many of their fans and the wider public to rethink bigoted attitudes.

This view is mirrored by my fellow Stop Murder Music campaigner, Dennis Carney of the Black Gay Mens Advisory Group. Of Jamaican descent, he helped negotiate the Reggae Compassionate Act. He observes:

“I am thrilled that Beenie Man, Sizzla and Capleton have signed this historic agreement…We welcome their commitment to not produce music or make public statements that incite hatred and violence against gay people. This is a giant leap towards restoring peace, love and harmony to reggae music. These performers are sending a clear message that lesbians and gay men have a right to live free from fear and persecution - both here in the UK and in Jamaica,” said Mr Carney.

In the Reggae Compassionate Act the four singers pledge to:

* “respect and uphold the rights of all individuals to live without fear of hatred and violence due to their religion, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or gender.”
* “there’s no space in the music community for hatred and prejudice, including no place for racism, violence, sexism or homophobia.”
* “we agree to not make statements or perform songs that incite hatred or violence against anyone from any community.”

In others words, the artists agree to halt all expressions of hatred and violence against lesbian and gay people. This is what we wanted. In response, for a trial period, we are suspending the campaign against these four performers. If they abide by the agreement, we will make the suspension permanent. If, however, the singers renege on the deal, we will resume the campaign against them.

Sadly, four other murder music artists - Elephant Man, TOK, Bounty Killa, and Vybz Kartel – have not signed the Reggae Compassionate Act. The campaign against them therefore continues. These singers have repeatedly incited the murder of lesbians and gays. People who advocate the killing of other human beings should not be rewarded with concerts or sponsorship deals.

The Stop Murder Music campaign is now intensifying its campaign to cancel these four singer’s concerts and their record, sponsorship and advertising deals. They have openly encouraged the murder of lesbians and gay men, which is a criminal offence in every country – including Jamaica and Britain. The law against incitement to murder should be enforced.

This is not a free speech issue. Free speech does not include the right to encourage murder and to wilfully put the fear of violent attack into the hearts of others. The critics who accuse us of trampling on freedom of expression are total hypocrites. They don’t dare defend the right of Hitler to advocate the extermination of the Jews or the right of race hate fanatics to incite the lynching of black people. Oh no, racist and anti-Semitic incitements are beyond the pale. But they somehow think that urging the murder of queers must be defended on the grounds of free speech and artistic freedom.

We call on people everywhere to boycott the four “kill queers” singers who have refused to sign to Reggae Compassionate Act; and to campaign against them with the same determination that they would campaign against racists and anti-Semites. These four unrepentant homophobic performers are the moral equivalent of neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan. They preach violence and murder.

Gareth Williams, the black co-chair of the Jamaican gay human rights group, J-Flag, endorses the Reggae Compassionate Act agreement:

“This statement against homophobia and violence is a move in the right direction,” he said. “We hope it is not commercially motivated by the singers’ desire to maintain their concert revenues, but a sincere commitment that will encourage an end to homophobic violence and to all violence against everyone. The four artists who have not signed the statement should now follow this lead and declare their support for universal human rights, including the human rights of lesbian and gay people,” said Mr Williams.

The Stop Murder Music campaign consists of more than 60 organisations in over a dozen countries in Europe, North America and the Caribbean. It won the Best Advocacy Award at the Black LGBT Community Awards 2007 in London.