‘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!