Keznamdi Calls Out Rastafarian Artists For Ignoring Alleged Trimming Of Nzinga King
Reggae singer Keznamdi has joined Foota Hype in calling out fellow Rastafarian artists for remaining silent on the alleged trimming of the locks of 19-year-old Nzinga King, by a policewoman whilst in the custody of the Four Paths police in Clarendon.
The Justice artist was the first Reggae artist to condemn the policewoman’ actions when he posted the news of the shaving of Nzinga’s had last week, on Emancipation Day, the day after the news broke, and also days before any of his musical compatriots commented on the matter.
When he shared the video, on his Instagram page Keznamdi had tagged Prime Minister Andrew Holness and said he was ‘cut up’ over the entire situation.
“DREAD and TERRIBLE. Don’t usually post things like this but mi nah tell nuh lie, dis one hurt me!!!! Jamaica it’s about time we see the beauty of RASTAFARI!!! @andrewholnessjm we need some JUSTICE,” the St. Andrew native had written.
Hours later he posted a series of newspaper articles and called on the Prime Minister, Culture Minister and the Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, to “do the right thing”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSKSXvSFQ29/
Da one ya name JUSTICE OR JUDGEMENT!!! We come a far way and this is a big violation to the Rastafarian community locally and internationally. Jamaica the whole world is watching, do the right thing, This is a great chance to begin the healing process of all the atrocities done to an indigenous people, The ball is in your court!!!! @andrewholnessjm @jamaicaconstabularyforce @hon.oliviagrange @delroychuckofficial
Yesterday in a Star article, Keznamdi echoed the sentiments that Foota Hype had made last week Tuesday, upon learning of the issue and realizing that the dreadlocked musicians were strangely silent.
At the time, Foota had described the shaving of King’s hair as, among other things, “a disrespectful, out of order violation”.
The veteran music selector, had hammered the silent Rasta artistes and the Rastafari mansions, labelling them “puss kittens”, “the weakest set of Jamaicans” and other adjectives for their business-as-usual approach and remaining mum on the matter, even though they had built all their wealth off of Rastafari.
Like Foota, Keznamdi expressing dismay to The Star about the failure of his Reggae colleagues to take on Nzinga’s cause.
“Mi very disappointed at this point inna mi colleagues dem because the whole Reggae fraternity was made and built on the revolutionary moves that Rastas used to get locked up for. Now, all of us as artistes and influencers make a lot of money from the foundation of Rastafari but only few will stand up in this fight,” the Victory singer said.
While adding that Rastafarians were a “national treasure of Jamaica that needs to be preserved”, he had also called on his musical compatriots too help in raising awareness.
“All the artistes who benefit from Reggae music need to stand up and stand with us and really help to put a stop to this because the Government won’t,” he said.
“We need them to raise awareness on their platforms. We need them to use their voices and unite in this fight. We counting on dem to stand up for us now,” he added.
Keznamdi told The Star that Rastafarians were still being treated like second-class citizens in Jamaica, and condemned the fact that chemically-treated hair was being accepted at schools and in corporate Jamaica, while the way black people’s hair grew from their heads was being frowned upon and rejected.
“In schools dem still a say getting dreadlocks is inappropriate but when you cream your hair, it is natural. Creaming your hair should be inappropriate not locks. And it’s the same in the professional world,” he said.
After slamming Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Culture Minister, Olivia Grange, the Bobo Ashanti, Nyahbingi and Twelve Tribes of Israel mansions of Rastafari, last week on his live Instagram feed, Foota Hype had turned the heat on the Reggae artists whom he said had hijacked the Rastafarian religion to make money and yet, do not defend other Rastas, whenever they are being violated.
Describing the Rastafarian Reggae artists as a bunch of weaklings, Foota said they had bowed down to the LGBT community, because of money, and they should all go and trim their heads.