Divide in culture or division in music? Or did the forces of capitalism force this competitive nature within the industry of entertainment. Let’s genuinely ask a couple questions. When did a hobby become this? When did a talent become an entity that needed to compete in the art world? When did a rebell movement become part of capitalism? Is art still shaping the minds of people? Is the artisan still the mover and shaker of concious society? Let’s talk “Fyah” and what it means to us.
With the resurgence of “fyha burning music”, in the Reggae Dancehall culture there has always been a small niche of Fyah burning songs that rocks the nation.
So let’s address the core factors and also some of the pillars of the culture.
Reggae & Dancehall is made from and through oppression. The voice and whaling of the people. When we add the undertone or overtone of soundscape that makes up this ingenuity we get Jamaican culture in its purist form. Spearheading this is Reggae & Dancehall.
Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Anthony B, Sizzla Kalonji, Queen Ifrica, Capleton, IWayne, Spragga Benz, Chuck Fenda. All these names have pushed the culture forward while still threatening against elitetism, capitalism and every other ism. There has been a solid list of cultural icons that have been this.
So our culture has seen it, heard it, felt it. The point is they all do it in their own unique way. So the question really is ” If the message is true, why is it controversial?”. Maybe it has to do with slavery and a colonial oversight that we don’t want to attach ourselves to. Fyah Burning from the Rastafarian community or common islander is referring to oppression of some order. Pick one whether killing, rape, corruption of any kind. As a Jamaican it’s some of the very after effect and trauma of Slavery and its effects. So there is rhyme and reason. It’s not random.
We have seen the new wave of acts that are continuing this legacy or again a small niche has that has kept that side of history rich. TJean, Dahvid Slur, now Yaksta and others. The reality is this is part of our culture whether you’re a Rastafarian or not. The pillars of Reggae & Dancehall somewhat dictates that we need it every few years just to keep the industry balanced.
These are all core factors of the culture. Most Jamaicans are comfortable with this factor or faction of the culture. Now if you’re not deeply rooted in the culture then it might offend some who think they don’t want to rock the boat. They prefer the calm passive approach within the culture & music.
Reggae is the big brother of Dancehall. So when the elder tries to portray the message in a more conscientious way, the little brother does the opposite. That’s the contrast in “Fyah Burning” and the way of the people. That’s the undertone of Jamaican culture.
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