Dancehall Artistes Express Outrage Over Court Ruling On Child’s Dreadlocks
The Dancehall/Reggae music fraternity is expressing outrage after the Jamaican Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the decision by the Kensington Primary School to bar the seven-year-old daughter of reggae music producer Dale Virgo, from attending the institution with dreadlocks, was not unconstitutional.
The controversy over Virgo’s daughter’s hair erupted in 2018 after reports surfaced that the child, who was five years old at the time, was initially accepted to the St. Catherine-based school, but her parents were later told by the school principal, that her locks would have to be cut.
Virgo and his wife had filed a claim at the time, arguing that the school’s policy against the hairstyle was in breach of her constitutional rights.
On Saturday, Bounty Killer was very strident in commenting on the matter on a post on Instagram. He superimposed an ‘X’ on a ‘Jamaican Happy Emancipation Day’ photo, and declared that Emancipation Day was “cancelled until Rasta free”.
“Idiot unno tek J’cans fah. Foh. No Emancipation with Discrimination. Dun Chat Or A Gun Shot,” the Warlord noted.
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After one fan commented that he liked the idea, but that the Killer should ‘retract the violence,’ the superstar added: “Not retracting anything it’s either or heither when yutes cyaah go to school a yard what it leads to justice or war simple. Mi a revolutionist cyaah speak any different sorry.”
Reggae singer Kabaka Pyramid, who first revealed to the media in 2018 that he was discriminated against, at his old high school, Campion College, when he began to grow his locks, was particularly incensed.
Arguing that he was sick and tired of ‘dis bullshit’, he said Jamaica was still a British colony with the Queen of England presiding over the courts.
“Mi disgusted and disappointed but not surprised. Mi a hope seh there is no truth to dis verdict. Some retarded judge rule in favor of dis ignorant school an headmaster for not allowing this beautiful girl and her beautiful hair into their slave yard and indoctrination center,” Kabaka said.
“JAMAICA ON A NATIONAL LEVEL DOES NOT ACCEPT RASTAFARI AND OUR LIVITY! …so doh come tell Rasta bout NO EMMANCIPATION AND NO INDEPENDENCE. Mi sick a dis place more time,” the irate artiste continued.
He also recommended that Rastafarians repatriate to Africa or build their own schools and in the interim, home-school their children.
“I learn 50 times more on my own than my 13 years in Jamaica’s education shit-stem. Btw I was banned from Campion Jesuit College campus because of my locs, so I a talk from personal experience. We should all be ashamed a wiself,” he said.
Vybz Kartel was sardonic in his brief statement he made beneath a screenshot of an article on the matter which was carried in the Washington Post, noting “Democracy dies in darkness”.
Rastafarian artiste Spragga Benz though, was softer in his tone, as he addressed his post to Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and tagged him.
“Blessed love @andrewholness… if you see this Mr PM this situation is a shame to Jamaica to say the least. Can you address this please and thanks…This is unacceptable… ALL RASTAFARI PEOPLE with and without locks must stand against this discrimination in our island… #MiShame,” Spragga wrote.
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Songstress Ce’Cile, Skatta Burrell, Tanya Stephens, Agent Sasco, and Konshens also expressed indignation at the situation, as did Foota Hype, who, as was expected, went to extremes in his Instagram post.
“A wich judge so bright? And hear wah, mek wi si if the Rastafarian community ago step and oppress this heartbreaking injustice @andrewholnessjm mi deven want tag u but who else mi can tag a u run di place so just tell mi a wah this?” Foota wrote.
His former Alliance colleague Agent Sasco also noted that the ruling, was a damper on Jamaica’s Independence Day celebrations.
“Court rules in favor of school. What are we doing in Jamaica in 2020???? So we should celebrate “Independence” in a few days when a child can’t wear her hair like this to school??? I bet perm and chemically induced curls are allowed. Incredible!!! This is a travesty and real tragedy!” Sasco said.
The Attorney General of Jamaica, Marlene Malahoo Forte, who had argued that the school’s policy was aimed at the maintenance of an acceptable level of hygiene, as well as the maintenance of discipline and order, has reportedly declined to comment on the Court’s ruling.
She had also argued that the actions of the school principal was not done in a bid to discriminate against Rastas.
In 2018, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange had said her Ministry would work with government ministries, departments and agencies “to ensure guidance issued on grooming for work or school does not target specific hair textures and hairstyles, race or religion”.
Grange, who is a former manager of Shabba Ranks and Bounty Killer, had also said the government’s policy does not permit discrimination on the basis of religious or cultural practices, and it was acceptable for any person in Jamaica to be discriminated against, or denied services because of their hairstyle.