This is a narrative of Jamaica told on a musical crescendo, no 'bungar.ung'. Just the words of Jah. `Equal Rights: Reggae and Social Change' is seeking to transform the bare walls of the Jamaica Music Museum, stringing together notes of this truly Jamaican genre. "Since reggae is Jamaican, we have used it to convey the message," said Herbie Miller, director/curator of the Jamaica Music Museum. "It is a journey highlighting socio-political and spiritual sensibility." The realm of the `happy go lucky' Jamaica transitions to Ska depicting plain and modern art building the crescendo of social change as the legendary Bob Marley and the Wailers resonate 'Get Up Stand Up', evolution of musicians on the frontline of social change.
When Tappa Zukie asked "People are you ready?" They chorused "Blow! Oh Lord!". Two of the Tamlins came out in locks-shaking, dancing fashion, settling to sing harmony on How I Wish It Would Rain to the third member's lead vocals. With a cry of "non-stop!" they went from Go Away Dream to Ting A Ling, Wildflower among the ending slow songs. Admiral Bailey brought up intermission with a crowd-pleasing mixture of humour, 'Delia move' and 'Samurai' dancing and Winston 'Merritone' Blake playing Long Story and Left With A Broken Heart in the break. Then it was singers all the way to the end, Gregory Isaacs delivering Number One and Rumors, Night Nurse coming before a Ragamuffin encore. Johnny Clarke's hit machine rolled out Move Outta Babylon and None Shall Escape the Judgement. Culture's Two Sevens Clash and I'm Not Ashamed came before Conqueror.
[Carolyn Cooper] said there is a dissonance between "the brand" and the "representation of the brand" and that "until in Jamaica we come to acknowledge Jamaica is not an "out of many, one people" country but it is really a country of black people with small numbers of ethnic minorities, we're not going to get the brand right." 'At Independence, Emancipation Day just disappeared. Because if you have Emancipation Day, then you have to ask yourself what you were emancipated from. And then certain people would have to say, well, we were mixed up in it. Slavery, that is. So Emancipation Day was just erased,"she said. "But Garveyites and Rastafari kept the tradition of celebrating Emancipation Day. And it's now back on the national calendar. We even have an Emancipation Park!" "This book is a celebration of Brand Jamaica, the authentic Brand Jamaica and I hope that as you read it, you'll understand why I'm so passionate about the subject," said Cooper as she ended her remarks.
