Archive for September, 2009

Re: Caribbean Bloglist

Sorry, forgot to mention my blog is called Sugar Apple

Vybz Kartel underperforming

In the year when the gods of the Orishas met, I Kwoth begged Olorun mercy for the dancehall griot Addie the teacher, the Vybz in Kartel. Olorun was much displeased with Addie the teacher, the leader of the Gaza, one side of the disunity in dancehall.

For Olorun fumed and regretted about the day he ever gave Addie such talent and cementing his place in history as one of dancehall’s best lyricists.

“Why does Addie waste his talent and confine himself solely to music for the Jamaican market? Although it is important to have home support one must always prepare himself to win over audiences from faraway lands. Instead, he has relegated himself to doing music which only appeals to local audiences. And now, he has decided to lead a pack of people where only one has talent called Portmore Empire or Gaza. This is really a waste of talent,” Olorun said.

And I Kwoth the omnipresent god replied: “ye he has talent. But his pushing of this Gaza agenda is a real disappointment. I Kwoth smiled when he collaborated with Wayne the son of the Marshall in the early days to do New Millennium. I Kwoth also smiled when he was touted as the next big thing from our shores. And you great Olorun was also pleased when scribes and kings likened him to a wordsmith, a ‘lyrics factory’ and the best griot since Spragga of the brand called Benz, and Sizzla who took on the name Kalonji.  But alas, oh Olorun, it is involvement with this Gaza agenda that has brought me here to plead forgiveness on his behalf because he knows not what he may have done.”

And Olorun replied; “for sure he knows what he has done because almost all walls in Jamaica bears graffiti marked Gaza. Only the narcissistic, enigmatic, dimwit, L.A. the Lewis has more markings on walls.  Even the world’s fastest man Usain the son of Bolt and the pencil thin one who has appointed himself King of the dancehall  – Moses the Beenie Man doth proclaim allegiance to Gaza.  It is so bad that to be anything else may get one attacked. For sure, even the Twin jesters have made mention of it as they entertained the Orishas. This Gaza Gully division must stop now or someone will ultimately be killed.”

I Kwoth answered and said: “Addie does not encourage violence from his fans to anyone who does not follow him or his music. Ye, he has said this many times. He has said Gaza means strong and that his music give strength to all. But, his fans have misinterpreted this meaning and have taken it to mean physical strength. I pray Olorun punish not this griot as he maybe suffering from youthful exuberance. “

But Olorun was still displeased and replied: “He has given exposure to other acts who would not have got attention otherwise. Although some of the members of his Gaza empire are talent free and have names that are more comical than cartoon characters, he has blessed us with Jah Vinci. Although he has denounced violence, that is not enough because such actions have never been put in songs and poems. This is why I shall judge him because he has failed to live up to his abilities. Because of his actions, at a time convenient to me, I will take away his creative ability and he shall be confined to shows of the vintage kind. And all his fans will abandon him and some will deny him even as the Americans have denied him. At that time, although his place in dancehall history will be guaranteed he shall be seen as one who underachieved on a global level. ”

Next Week : Mavado’s judgement

‘Gully and Gaza’ war destroying Jamaica’s reputation

In the year when dancehall had grown internationally but was still largely underground worldwide for many reasons, I Kwoth, a god was sent by Olorun to dwell on earth to and to replace Idi Amin who had fallen out of favour with the other gods.

Now, I Kwoth, am a god who is likened to a coin in a chair that is there but will never be found – a fly on the wall an apparition in the midst of men, a dweller in the air and sky.

I Kwoth came to earth as an immortal to dwell among mere mortals, a being of perfection to live among imperfection. And I looked upon the state of dancehall and was much displeased with what I saw. Ye, even the other gods, Olorun and the rest of the Orishas were greatly displeased.

And they said unto me: “why is there a feud between this Gully and Gaza? Are the leaders of the feud, Mavado the one from the  Brooks, and the Vybz in the Kartel also known as Addi the teacher not from the same tribe called the Alliance? Are they not sons of the griot Bounty the Killer?”

“ Based on this, they should not be feuding. Instead, they should be living in harmony and taking dancehall to a higher realm like its son hip hop. This feud is unlike any other rivalry in the business which we have seen since the emergence of the Jamaican music industry. Ye, it is so bad that the ‘academians’ Herbert the son of Gayle and Donna from the tribe of Hope have labeled it as occurring because of a deeper social issue.  It is bad because unlike feuds of the last 20 years, this involves physical altercations. We the gods of the Orishas have never seen this before. For even as the Man Ninja and the rankin’ Shabba warred, their tiff was restricted to record.  There is little to suggest it ever became physical between the supporters of both sides. Ye, even when Bounty the Killer and Moses the Beenie man did war, there was little physical confrontation between their followers.”

And I Kwoth the precious immortal, the coin in the chair that can never be found, the omnipresent one replied: “ye, this so because some mortals are even comparing to political wars of the past. I too am displeased about the Gully and Gaza division in dancehall.”

“ Before you Olorun had banished the megalomaniac Idi Amin to far away barren lines to live amongst the heathens, he had questioned why  anyone would want to be associated with a place called Gaza, a place that is bombed constantly and is inhospitable.”

“Now, I Kwoth is wondering why two talented artiste are literally warring with each other when there are more important things affecting dancehall than grafitti on walls and who has more fans.”

“I too is curious to find out how does waging a quasi-civil war enhance dancehall internationally? How does this pointless war give the music a voice and strength to lobby and fight against forces spreading propaganda against Jamaica and its artistes?

“I Kwoth believe this trivial feud does more harm to our international reputation than good. I also believe that both artistes are limiting themselves by assigning names that literally drag them through the quagmire and I as a god am displeased.

I  will rain judgement on the warring tribes. And my wrath will be felt through my words and my pen and I will bring vengeance on the warriors until this poor excuse for a rivalry ends. Next week I shall judge Addi the Teacher, the Vybz in the Kartel, leader of the Gaza.

By Kwoth

The omnipresent one!

Re: Caribbean Bloglist

Thanks for all the links. Please Visit Caribbean Trips  Caribbean trips is a blog where you can find sensations that the travelers feel during his trips to the Caribbean destination, as well as his experiences as for enjoyment, attention to the client, realities of the hotels, jaunts and comments about the management of selling and services.

OAS Secretary General participated in the opening of the XIII Annual Conference of the Andean Development Corporation

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Mr. José Miguel Insulza, on Wednesday participated in the opening of the XIII Annual Conference of the Andean Development Corporation (CAF), sponsored by the OAS and the Inter-American Dialogue foundation, on “Trade and Investment in the Americas”. Mr. Insulza spoke alongside the CAF Executive President, Mr. Enrique García, and the President of the Inter-American Dialogue foundation, Mr. Peter Hakim.