At this evening’s CARICOM Heads of Government closing press briefing, Grenada Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell raised a poignant concern regarding the detrimental influence of Caribbean music that promotes violence.
In his address, Prime Minister Mitchell acknowledged the rich legacy of Caribbean entertainers, citing iconic figures such as soca singer Machel Montano, calypso legend The Mighty Sparrow, and reggae icon Bob Marley. He emphasized the historical significance of their music, which was characterized by inspiring, uplifting, and entertaining lyrics that refrained from promoting violence or degrading women.
However, Prime Minister Mitchell highlighted a troubling trend emerging in the contemporary Caribbean entertainment sector. He pointed to the rise of a new generation of artists who, through genres like “Trinibad” in Trinidad, dancehall music in Jamaica, and rap hip-hop in Latin America, have been promoting themes glorifying violence and criminality.
Expressing concern about the normalization of such themes in mainstream culture that blur the lines between artistic expression and the erosion of societal values, Prime Minister Mitchell emphasized, “It’s become our lives. It’s become mainstream. Is that right? It is not.”
On that note, he urged Caribbean leaders to confront this issue head-on, emphasizing the need to promote positive content that aligns with the true essence and values of Caribbean civilization.
Prime Minister Mitchell also called upon all sectors of society, including artists, musicians, entertainers, sports personalities, and social media influencers, to actively contribute to the development of positive cultural expression. He stressed the importance of creating content that inspires and motivates the youth, steering them away from destructive behaviors.
“We are not here to talk censorship,” Prime Minister Mitchell clarified, noting that there is a right to expression. But he did reinforce, “If they keep dying at 20 or 21 years there will be no Caribbean civilization 50 to 60 years from now.”
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell then reiterated the urgency of addressing this issue, emphasizing that the future of Caribbean civilization hinges upon the collective efforts to promote positive cultural expression within the entertainment industry.
