Sound system culture makes ‘sounds’ at Harvard University

Harvard University, the respected American centre of learning, was the venue of a vibrant showcase of Jamaican sound system culture at the Hip Hop Museum in the History Design Studio, Harvard Square, Boston, on March 7.

During a two-day symposium, music producer, recording artiste and technology expert Makonnen Blake-Hanna, dancer LaTonya Style and film producer Jonelle Simone Powe showcased the history of dancehall and sound system music culture.

Charles Warren, professor of American History, professor of African and African American studies, and Director of the History Design Studio Vincent Brown declared that the multimedia event was intended “to stretch the canvas of historical scholarship and make a lasting contribution to the understanding of the past and present American and international African culture”. Brown, the host of the event, is known in Jamaica as the author of Tacky’s Revolt, a gripping account of the large and nearly successful 1760 Jamaican slave revolution that began in St Mary and inspired the Haitian Revolution.

Dancehall music has uniquely birthed a variety of dance moves and dancers, who enhance the enjoyment of the music with unique steps that are copied at home and abroad. Day one of the event began with a session in which the history of dancehall moves, and the dancers who created them, was shared and demonstrated by dancehall choreographer, performer and instructor LaTonya Style, whose experience includes tours with dancehall artistes, as well as lectures on dancehall in more than 40 countries worldwide. She was assisted by the screening of the dancehall documentary Out There Without Fear, produced by event panellist, film director Joelle Simone Powe, who also added comments.

Led by Brown, the second day’s panel discussion began with music producer Blake-Hanna saying the History Design Studio was a most appropriate place to discuss the newest phase of Jamaican music culture, because it was the museum where Jamaican artiste Kool Herc was memorialised for creating hip-hop and taking it from his homeland Jamaica, to become an international beat and dance in America and the world.

Blake-Hanna, who has produced hits by several leading dancehall artistes, described the beginnings of dancehall from its roots in the spiritual reggae music of such artistes as Brigadier Jerry, Super Cat, Max Romeo, Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace, Big Youth, and others. He explained that the Jamaican music we know now began developing as Jamaica became independent in 1962 from its colonial roots. Influenced by, but moving from music originating in the USA and Britain that dominated what was played and aired in Jamaica, Jamaican musicians and artistes began creating the reggae genre and sub-genres of ska, rocksteady and dancehall that have grown into the political and cultural musical self-expression and identity for which Jamaica is now well known.

Saying that he did not agree with criticism of dancehall music changing over the decades from the early spiritual lyrics of reggae artistes such as Marley, Burning Spear and Culture, into the contemporary political, sexual and violent content of much of today’s dancehall music, he said music always reflects the times and is influenced by contemporary life, not the other way around as some critics say. Today’s music, he stated, is about Jamaica today as the artistes see it.

The auditorium was then cleared of chairs for the event to became a dancehall venue, as Blake-Hanna used two turntables as DJ to host a listening party of his 2015 conceptual music project, Rockers Revolution. The music recreated a night at Jack Ruby’s famous James Avenue Lawn in Ocho Rios, each track introduced by one of the dancehall greats in their typical styles of ‘toasting’ and free-styling that became unique within the dancehall.

Inspired by the music, dancehall diva LaTonya Style took to the floor, demonstrating some dance moves and encouraging guests to follow her as authentically as they could, recreating a warm, happy Jamaican party night in the Hip Hop Museum, despite the cold Boston weather outside.

Among the guests of students and friends enjoying the seminar was Harvard law professor Charles Nesson, a long-standing friend of Jamaica and Jamaican culture, and Jamaican cultural consultant Barbara Blake-Hannah.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com