UNOD WEEKENDER 2014 Since no one else has asked or clarified it, I am going to go out on a limb here and ask the very honest and obvious question about the upcoming 2014 weekender. WHAT IS IT EXACTLY? I am familiar with the numerous forms the music have undergone in the last 20yrs from JA Style Reggae, Ragga, Rub-A-Dub, Dancehall, UK Style Reggae, Lovers Rock, UK Style Roots & Culture Reggae (not forgeting the other forms like NuRoots, World and Reggaeton). Similarly the same changes have happened to Sound System culture with JA Style Sound Systems, UK Style Roots & Culture Sound Systems and finally to the new form of Dub Sound Systems. The United Nations of Dub Weekender 2013 follows the success of the Radio Show of the same name (Brainchild of I-Mitri and Richi Roots of Counteraction Band). There were some questions raised at the last one of 2013 which saw the exclusion of many UK based Roots & CUlture Sound Systems and a proliferation of many new and upcoming strictly Dub Sound Systems (of which the obvious leader of the pack King Alpha was not included). This year is almost more of the same except more of the Roots & Culture Sound Systems of 2013 are now omittted from the line-up or relegated from the Sound System Arena to the U.N.O.D Arena or the Selectors Arena. This is why i ask the question and seek validation for what is really going on with UK Style Sound System Culture. Are we at a point where politics or money drives the industry? or is this a reflection of our willingness to neglect our cultural responsibility to teach and spread love messages from a spiritual especially Rasta standpoint? Isnt Roots Reggae the flagship medium of spreading Rasta philosophy and principles? WHAT IS THE CONCERN or WHY ASK THE QUESTION? The answer to these two questions as i see it paints a very dismal picture for the future of Positivity in the music and a proliferation of negativity forced by the capitalistic tendencies of human nature and the Babylonian mentality Roots Reggae have long since rallied, suffered, wailed & cried out against. Yes, just like Rap, Dancehall, Dubstep or even the predecessors (jungle, Drum & Bass and Techno) the new Dubcentric Sound Systems are exciting, heavily bass driven, very popular and undeniably pulls a bigger crowd but lack spirituality, cultural awareness, moral value and is certainly devoid of social or family responsibility. It is interesting to notice that should the likes of Jah Shaka, Aba Shanti and King Earthquake were to be ommitted from future Weekender events the Sound System Arena would be devoid of UK Style Roots & Culture Sound Systems. A quick count or the number of Roots & Culture Sound Systems in the UK alone would make one realize how many have been left out of the biggest event to represent Sound System Culture globally, hmmmm? FINAL QUESTION? Would it not be best to have a Reggae Roots & Culture Weekender so that all sound systems can be included. UK Style Roots & Culture Sound System have always included DUB or Instrumentals as an extension of the vocal message, there is no need to break them apart unless it is for a specific and negative agenda. I for one would like to see more Roots & CUlture Sound Systems represented and participate in deciding the direction of this music genre for the future. Also, if indeed DUB and Roots & Culture sound systems are regarded as separate from each other, then let us be clear and break them apart like we did for Jungle, Drum & Bass and Techno. We should stop identifying the hodge podge as Uk Style Roots & Culture because it most certainly not (in my humble opinion). - Livity International Sound System
Posted on: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 14:40:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015