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Though this is a bit late in coming I feel impelled to give my thoughts on the matter. Now, while much of the world was preoccupied with Will Smith’s shenanigans at the Oscars, Jamaicans and other members of the diaspora were talking about SOJA winning the Grammy for Best Reggae Album.
Many were angry. Some still are. Of course, accusations of cultural appropriation were thrown around. How could a group of white men from the US win an award that found its genesis in Pan-Africanism? Many asked. Who are these people who made this decision? What qualifies them to determine what ‘the best’ reggae music is?
For me, it is quite simple. It is theirs. They created the award. They can give anyone or any group they damn well choose. It is quite presumptuous of anyone to be outraged at this.
I assert, if you want to give the most ‘deserving’ artiste(s), create your own award and give it to whomever you like. You cannot be treading on other people’s real estate and tell them what to do. I think this is akin to a stranger walking into your house to censure you for not completing your chores on time.
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And while I understand that many people believe that this genre of black music might be stolen like so many others have; I would like to inform the moaners that no amount of moaning will stop other people from copying your art. Sure, I might sound as if I am contradicting myself based on the example I gave, however, they are not telling black people what to do with their art, they are merely taking it and doing with it what they will. This is called power, something many outside the metropolis do not have.
The decision by the academy bothers us for many reasons. Chief among them is our powerlessness to govern our own affairs.
