Tweet
Elgin Taylor, Star Writer
For more than two decades, Jamaicans at home and abroad have become immersed in the crime problem and how to go about solving it. So much is our penchant for destroying each other that we have become known as the murder capital of the world! Not since the days of buccaneering in old Port Royal have we been accorded such dubious distinction. But in all of this, there is one weapon that we have failed to capitalise on adequately, and that is the power of music.
In the holy Bible, 1Samuel 16 v 23 to be exact, we read about the evil, tormenting, riotous and murderous spirit that came upon King Saul, and each time this happened he would send for David, who would play his harp and the spirit would leave him. In like manner, I believe that this murderous spirit which is upon many in our land can be charmed.
But how should one proceed with such an undertaking? I believe that the focus should be on positive music - the kind that warms the soul, soothes the spirit and uplifts the mind. To find such form of music, we may need to turn to the classical type.
There would also be the need for sacred or 'church music' as some prefer to call it. There could be hymns and aspects of the more modern praise and worship type of songs. There could be a problem with music of the type performed by a Lieutenant Stitchie, a Goddy Goddy or a DJ Nicholas. The reason being that many persons believe that there is too thin a line between their performance and that seen in the secular arena.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Certain forms of music which are termed 'culture' would not make it. These include kumina, mento and pocomania, because a section of the population believes that they invoke spirits, ancestral or otherwise.</span> Much of reggae music, too, would be in serious doubt, and so would attract a special panel of selectors. Dancehall music would be confined to its rightful place - in the dancehalls, as part of a renewed sound-system culture. <span style="font-weight: bold">Music of whatever genre which employs the syncopated rhythm would be banned, because of its suspected association with revivalism</span>.
<span style="font-style: italic">Of course there would have to be serious censorship on what is played on the airwaves or portrayed in the print media. </span>Special target areas would be the prisons, the homes, the schools and communities in general. The church would play an integral part in the coordination and dissemination of this musical thrust. <span style="font-weight: bold">In addition, most, if not all, of the psalms of King David, would be put to music. </span>
In terms of communities, the inner cities would be given priority treatment. On every street corner there would be a music or dance group, where performances would be done on the streets in a style similar to the current passa passa. In the prisons, inmates would be bombarded by this special kind of music, filtered through strategically placed speakers, morning, noon and night.
Of course there would be those who would argue about human rights infringements and the imposition of a theocracy, but strong governance, coupled with the will of the majority of the people and backed by legal enactment would prevail.
This idea, utopian as it sounds, would not be done all in one big swoop, but in measured doses over several years.
If Saul's wicked intentions could be calmed and charmed by music, so can the thoughts of the murderous men among us.
Comment