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Take a bow, Summerfest Productions
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
From all reports, this year's staging of Reggae Sumfest was a success, both from the standpoint of its organisation and the talent it placed on show for the world.
We were particularly proud of the fact that on Saturday night our own Beres Hammond, Etana and Tarrus Riley, in particular, delivered the kind of performances that could stand out on any stage worldwide.
Those performances speak to the professionalism and high standards that these three artistes always exhibit - qualities that, we hope, the younger artistes will emulate and, in the process, make their acts more palatable to all audiences.
For as we have argued before, entertainers, by virtue of their mass appeal, wield significant influence, especially among our young people, and as such have a great responsibility to speak and act in a manner that will help mould our youths into good citizens.
We were therefore heartened by the booing of Mr Rodney Pryce, who goes by the appellation Bounty Killer, when he descended into the gutter on Thursday night by trying to smear the reputation of his rival deejay, Mr Moses Davis, better known as Beenie Man.
Mr Davis, despite making a public spectacle of himself in the past, seems to have learnt his lesson and, impressively, took the moral high ground with his non-combative and witty response to Mr Pryce's filth.
Mr Davis's response, we believe, is a perfect example of what organisations such as the Disputes Resolution Foundation and Peace and Love in Schools are trying to achieve, especially among students. For until we appreciate the wisdom and value of the Scripture "A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger", we will continue to grapple with the problem of violent crime that we seem so unable to exorcise.
Show promoters and sponsors, we believe, can help in this endeavour, as they can easily block artistes who, when they get on stage, insist on inciting violence and hatred. Of course, we'll hear the usual argument that some of these uncouth performers can mean the difference between success and failure at the turnstiles. However, we believe that the reaction of the audience at Reggae Sumfest last Thursday night to Mr Pryce's rot debunks that view.
Outside of that sordid episode, though, it appears that the audience at the annual summer festival got their money's worth, and Jamaica's reputation as a cultural destination was greatly enhanced. Quite frankly, it couldn't have come at a better time for the tourism industry, which is feeling the effects of the spike in world oil prices.
Summerfest Productions, therefore, must take a bow for their handling of this year's festival, and they deserve kudos for their commitment to ensuring diversity in the island's tourism product.
For let's face it, having thousands of hotel rooms is key to a successful tourism industry, but just as vital is the offer of attractions and world-class events.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
From all reports, this year's staging of Reggae Sumfest was a success, both from the standpoint of its organisation and the talent it placed on show for the world.
We were particularly proud of the fact that on Saturday night our own Beres Hammond, Etana and Tarrus Riley, in particular, delivered the kind of performances that could stand out on any stage worldwide.
Those performances speak to the professionalism and high standards that these three artistes always exhibit - qualities that, we hope, the younger artistes will emulate and, in the process, make their acts more palatable to all audiences.
For as we have argued before, entertainers, by virtue of their mass appeal, wield significant influence, especially among our young people, and as such have a great responsibility to speak and act in a manner that will help mould our youths into good citizens.
We were therefore heartened by the booing of Mr Rodney Pryce, who goes by the appellation Bounty Killer, when he descended into the gutter on Thursday night by trying to smear the reputation of his rival deejay, Mr Moses Davis, better known as Beenie Man.
Mr Davis, despite making a public spectacle of himself in the past, seems to have learnt his lesson and, impressively, took the moral high ground with his non-combative and witty response to Mr Pryce's filth.
Mr Davis's response, we believe, is a perfect example of what organisations such as the Disputes Resolution Foundation and Peace and Love in Schools are trying to achieve, especially among students. For until we appreciate the wisdom and value of the Scripture "A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger", we will continue to grapple with the problem of violent crime that we seem so unable to exorcise.
Show promoters and sponsors, we believe, can help in this endeavour, as they can easily block artistes who, when they get on stage, insist on inciting violence and hatred. Of course, we'll hear the usual argument that some of these uncouth performers can mean the difference between success and failure at the turnstiles. However, we believe that the reaction of the audience at Reggae Sumfest last Thursday night to Mr Pryce's rot debunks that view.
Outside of that sordid episode, though, it appears that the audience at the annual summer festival got their money's worth, and Jamaica's reputation as a cultural destination was greatly enhanced. Quite frankly, it couldn't have come at a better time for the tourism industry, which is feeling the effects of the spike in world oil prices.
Summerfest Productions, therefore, must take a bow for their handling of this year's festival, and they deserve kudos for their commitment to ensuring diversity in the island's tourism product.
For let's face it, having thousands of hotel rooms is key to a successful tourism industry, but just as vital is the offer of attractions and world-class events.