Reggae artist Sizzla "Miguel Orlando Collins" Kalonji had to cancel his scheduled performance in Stockholm, due to public outcry over his anti-gay lyrics.
Via Thelocal.se
Jamaican reggae singer Sizzla has been prevented from performing in Stockholm after his anti-gay lyrics have sparked outrage among Swedish music-lovers.
Sizzla, whose full name is Sizzla Kalonji, was booked to perform at the Hornstull Strand in Sweden’s capital on March the 28th.
However, event organizers have acknowledged the public outcry and accepted the fact that the Sizzla’s messages are in fact in breach of their code of conduct.
The organizers have since cancelled the show, which was dubbed “The Reggae Compassionate Act”.
Sizzla, 35, is currently on tour and has played 18 European venues with the same result – members of the gay community being outraged. Read more
To Whom It May Concern,
ReplyDeleteWe work closely with many of the artists in the reggae scene and feel that your constant attack against the artists and the musical genre is unfair and one sided. First of all, only one Sizzla show has been cancelled. Second he has not even begun to tour so you are giving misinformation to the public about him performing homophobic lyrics at 18 other shows recently. Thirdly, Sizzla is not booked to perform in Canada nor England but of course false information is being written to make the article look good.
Fourthly, Sizzla's last tour, he may have sung Nah Apologize but he censored it. What happen to freedom of speech and freedom of expression? Fifthly Sizzla and other reggae artists are apart of a culture and nation that legally does not support or accept the lifestyle of the homosexual community. If you have an issue with that, take it up with the Government. Sizzla is a product of his own community and society that does not embrace nor promote such behavior. Sixthly, patois the language that Sizzla uses to express his music are forms of metaphoric expression so when he or any artists say burn, fire, or kill, they are not literal terms. In fact the words translate to mean several things depending on the context of its use. But for the most part it means to disagree with something.
Seven, the term battyman was derived from the rise of pedophiles and rape of young boys. That is why the term is battyman, so those that embrace this term, therefore embrace the raping and pedophiling of young boys. This is one of the main reasons why there is such an outcry against homosexuality because in many cases in Jamaica it has been done where young boys were raped or coerced by tourist into the lifestyle seeking to gain visa or better opportunities. This has also contributed to a rise in gay male prostitution in Jamaica and is prevelant amongst teenagers and youth.
Lastly, Sizzla never signed the Reggae Compassionat Act. It was a false signature and if you compare his signature to the paper, you will see it is not his signature. The man just recovered from a horrific accident where he almost lost his life. You and your group have done enough damage to Reggae music and different artist career, you have made your point. We don't see you attack Eminem or other musicians who make clear stances against this same issues in the hip hop, rock, and pop industry.
Just the fact that Sizzla has been censoring his own music during performances is proof that he is trying to respect others. Let us be clear majority of his music is uplifting, positive, speaks of family, empowerment, spirituality, and unity. At the same time he is a Rastafarian musician, what would Bob Marley be today if groups like yours tried to protest him, keep him in a box, and prevent him from expressing his views? If you don't like Sizzla or any of the Reggae music, you don't have to go to their shows, buy their music or listen to them on the radio. We must believe in safe spaces where people can be who they are but when you are in Rome, you must do what the Romans do. So when you are in Jamaica, you must respect Jamaican culture and not try to impose your beliefs on a society that does not embrace certain things.There are two sides to the stories, yes everyone is entitled to live and express themselves, but we must be respectful of all people values and principles including the rights of heterosexual people. Thanks
Coalition to Protect Reggae & Family Values