Teino Evans, Staff Reporter

Ken Boothe has faced tough questions from journalists in France. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Following the latest battle between members of the gay community and dancehall performers, some roots reggae artistes have distanced themselves from the homosexual issue. According to them, dancehall and reggae are two separate genres and should be referred to as such.

Freddie McGregor says, "If you notice we are not involved in the broil weh a gwaan wid di gay people, so why dem a put di two music together if the genres are different? Relating that to reggae on a whole, goin' put a bad outlook on the music. I think it should a relate to the particular artiste involved, because not all dancehall artistes are involved. Is like a deliberate effort to smear the reputation of reggae. The dancehall genre has become a standard part of the thing, but what I notice is that every time a situation goes wrong that artiste is referred to as a dancehall and reggae artiste."

According to McGregor "This affects the whole thing greatly, because dem draw reggae into it and persons don't separate the two genres. So the emphasis should be placed on the individual or individuals, because it can hurt the entire music."

Below the radar

McGregor says even though dancehall performers have been feeling the brunt of the pressure, reggae artistes have so far managed to stay below the gay radar with only few instances where they have had shows cancelled.

"So far, it has not affected us directly, but I have had a big show cancelled in England because some of the artistes that they (the gay community) are targeting were on it and I am sure that it has happened to Beres as well, so it affects us indirectly. My message to the genre (dancehall), I think we are creative enough to make music that does not interfere with anyone. Buju, Bounty, Beenie and others have done it before and sold records. I am not a supporter of being gay, the world over knows that, but I do music about love and peace," McGregor said.

"We, as Rastafarians, did done get ova da barrier deh from inna di '70s and '80s. Wi done lick dat an seh wi nuh believe inna dem tings deh an wi sey wah we a seh an leave it an nobody nah lick wi now for it, but a jus seh some people come loud it up again. Sometimes yuh haffi be wise even when yuh know di truth, some tings yuh leave alone. Wi come come si certain things an it a guh tek more dan you an me fi change it. Wi don't want to see dancehall or reggae music suffer, so the best solution is that we get back to doing music."

Endure questions

Singer Ken Boothe says he has had to endure some questions from journalists the last time he was in France for a show, but maintained that he is all about the music and not a person's private practices.

"The last time I was in France and they cancelled some shows, journalists there questioned us about the gay thing and my answer was that I don't come there to meddle in people business, I come to do music and extend my culture. I'm not for it (the gay business), but when I go there I go to carry messages of love and I focus on the music. My advice is to leave people business alone," Boothe said.

Boothe also said that it is useless to try and fight against this movement and that artistes would be better off just concentrating on making good music.

"When I go abroad nobody don't bother me because I don't bother them. If somebody love my music an dem gay, what must I do, deny them my music? No, I don't business wid dat, mi wouldn't mek dat bother me, me nah mek dem ting deh stop my music," Boothe said.

No labelling

Bob Andy says in recent times he has not really had a lot of shows and this may account for his limited knowledge of the situation.

"Well, I'm not aware that it has impacted on my area. I don't do a lot of shows, but I haven't spoken to any of my artistes from my era and I don't want to speculate. I've never heard a reggae artiste being banned from a concert or tour for that issue so we would just have to wait and see how it affects it (reggae music) and this is a very sensitive area and it is something that I will observe more closely," Andy said.

However, as it relates to dancehall and reggae music being labelled as one, Andy said, "I always knew that we would have problems with the labelling of our music. We have many parts to our music and not because one comes out first it means that it is the only music of our country."