I came across this article in The Bee today. It seems that the dancehall artist Capleton (whom I admittedly hadn’t heard of before the article) has run into some serious controversy for lyrics that ostensibly say mean things about gay people. I’ve tried to research more into what exactly his alleged lyrical crimes have been, and I haven’t come up with a whole lot.
Wikipedia says this:
Capleton has faced criticism for anti-gay lyrics in some of his songs. His manager has argued that some of the controversial lyrics have been mistranslated and do not actually refer to gays. Capleton himself has admitted that through his Rastafari faith he believes that a homosexual lifestyle is not right, but has insisted that terms such as “burn” and “fire” are not to be understood in the literal sense “to go out and burn and kill people”, but as a metaphor for “purification” and cleansing. As part of an agreement to end the Stop Murder Music campaign, Capleton and other artists allegedly signed the Reggae Compassionate Act (RCA) in 2007. However, Capleton has continued to sing songs that some claim violate the RCA, causing the cancellation of a concert in Switzerland in 2008 and a United States tour in 2010, and as of late 2010 the Stop the Murder Music campaign is continuing to have some success in canceling Capleton gigs.
I will say this, if Capleton’s lyrics say something like ‘the homosexuals will burn’ and then acts surprised when people take to condone violence toward gays or anti-gay sentiment, then he’s either totally full of shit or very, very naïve. Really, he might just be that naïve, because a lot of times, when you live within the bubble of a culture that isn’t gay friendly, you are totally ignorant to what gay people are really like, and what sort of issues they face. Then again, you have to be pretty daft to think ‘burning’ isn’t going to be taken in a literal sense. Of course, this is all speculation on my part, because I was never able to find the lyrics in question. I don’t know what exactly Capleton said, so I really can’t pass judgment. Regardless, I think every person from a homophobic religion needs to stop worrying about what gay people are doing, and worry about their own ‘spiritual wellbeing’ or whatever. You think gay people haven’t heard about how God hates them? You think hearing it from you is going to improve anything? I seriously hate so much about religion.
Aesthetically, Capleton is sort of awesome. Check out this video. It totally makes me want to shave my head and put on some boots and suspenders.
In Capleton’s songs and in comments from the stage, Capleton does more than call for a “metaphorical” cleansing by fire (“fyah bun”).
In “Bun Out Di Chi Chi” Capleton says: “Bun out ah chi chi, Blood out ah chi chi.” “Chi chi” is a derogatory Jamaican term for “gay man.” “Blood out: as in chop, cut, stab, shoot… is a particularly violent,graphic expression.”
In “Whoa! ‘New Way’” Capleton sings: “Sadomite and batty man shot-up….Whoa.” “Batty man” is another derogatory Jamaican term for “gay man.” It is clear here that he is calling for shooting gay men.
In “More Prophet” Capleton sings: ““All boogaman and sodemites fi get killed.” This translates as: All queers and sodomites should be killed.”
In “Hang Dem Up” Capleton sings that: “Bare batty man come round yah a brive….yow / String dem up and hang dem up alive.” This translates as: “All queers who come around here / String them up and hang them up alive.”
These songs are all on YouTube. These are not all of Capleton’s homophobic songs.
Capleton signed a Reggae Compassionate Act agreement, promising not to promote hatred and violence in 2007. But he violated his agreement before the end of the 2007.
You can learn more about Capleton at Info about Capleton and Homophobia in Jamaica and the Caribbean
The link in the previous comment for more information about Capleton is broken.
You’ll find more information about Capleton at Info about Capleton and Homophobia in Jamaica and the Caribbean