Editor’s note: This piece, written by Athie Martin, was inspired by a news story on TV network Aljazeera, about Ivorian reggae singer Tiken Jah Fakoly, as he fights for Africa’s poor and marginalised.
We can see Jeff Jo, Dice, Exile One, and other musical/cultural prophets in Tiken.
This News Story/Video reminds us of our responsibilities.
We can chase the dollar for the right or the wrong reasons.
Tiken reminds us as do the others that the primary purpose of our talents is the liberation and advancement of our people here and everywhere.
This may sound like cliche of the 1960s but guess what, for the past 50 years the politicians andleaders of various kinds have failed to make that positive difference for our people.
It is like they/we all have spent the time building extensions to the legacy of slavery and colonisation.
Black History Month has come and gone again and guess what, did the artistes of Dominica, the Caribbean make sure that we used our talents to remind and motivate our people that our liberation and development depend on us? We all know the one word answer to that question.
Let us Take a look at the video on Tiken and remind ourselves of our purpose.
The longer we fail to recall our purpose as artistes the deeper the mess we place our people in.
The crime and violence in our schools and villages is just another painful reminder of what our failure as leaders over the past 50 years has caused for our people.
I am shooting a video documentary on the current crime/violence sweeping Dominica. It did not start this year or last. We know that. The question I ask are: Where did it start? What is the impact? How do we get back to the peace path?
My generation – over 60 years – we were given the tools to prevent this but we have used these tools to make “success” for ourselves while ignoring and aggravating the loss of peace and destruction of our people, our communities, our history, our legacy.
We have to start by admiting that we have failed, along with the political and commercial leaders of our countries and Region.
There is no one standing behind us that we can really point an accusing finger at without pointing the proverbial 4 fingers right back at ourselves.
My generation, our generation has to claim its share of the responsibility for the chaos and collapse of our communities.
We fight against each other. against calypso. against steelpan. against farmers. against culture. against good food. against thinking. against partnering. against everything that we know is essential for liberation and development.
Tiken reminds us that this is the road to hell on earth.
For the first time in my life I see fear in the eyes of Dominican mothers, teachers, children …
For the first time in my life, I see a sense of hopelessness and hear it in the voices of Dominicans …
I see this even while a small group of politicians and their associated parasites, professionals, priests, pastors, artistes, media workers, magistrates, judges, bankers, police and poor people cannibalize each other in order to catch the crumbs from the tables of the tyrants we call leaders.
I see local and regional institutions that were created to work for us become partners with the philosophies and processes that enslave and impoverish and de-soul us.
I see all this while my generation, our generation still say that they do not have even a few hours a week that they can give to peace, to our people, to our children, our communities.
I see all this while Jeff Jo, Dice and the others, along with Tiken try to call us to arms for justice, peace and progress.
I hear us turn up the volume on our car stereos, our music and sund systems at the festivals and carnivals as we appear determined not to hear the message, the call, the cries of people who really need those few hours of our time.
I see us liming and drinking while we keep insisting that we do not have the time to give time.
I see the guilt in our eyes as we fail our people because we know what we must do yet seem frightened and are weak.
Time to wake up!
well written! hope this article reaches schools and news papers
Do Dominicans remember those years when the French government and authorities begged and pleaded with us to assist them with crime fighting in the neighboring french isles? Remember anyone???
Horrendous crimes were committed by our young men and women in these places, but we weren’t very interested because they brought home plenty Euros and French francs. But what happened to the Francs, and now the Euros?
Well truth is, coupled with no jobs, some say universal education, poor parenting, poor public role models, we were also breeding Guada, SM and Tinique criminals for a very very long time.
Dominica back then was still economically backward, but as small as it is the conditions for crime are ripe: more tourist arrivals, tourist getaways, medical schools, foreigners making Dca their own and investing in vacation homes etc.
Our criminals are only returnING home. That’s all.
Just don’t see how we can compare Dominica with what is taking place in Africa if that is the purpose of this article.
Great article! Often, we lose ourselves for the love of material things and forget the main reason why we exist, and our responsibility to the generation after us. Money is not a bad thing, but using money selfishly is. Thanks for reminding us of our purpose and responsibilities to the next generation. Community service should be what we truly live for. Simple things such as, building our community, spending quality time with each other, teaching others by sharing our skills and experiences, as Mr. Martin noted, only then our social issues will be resolved.
a very engaged and conscious artist.his first album which arrived on the french caribbean passed unnoticed but as time went by the job was done.he is one of many singers who sing real things which concerns not only africa but the caribbean.you right MCMARIE.it’s JUMBO on the BASS.bring him to DA to frustrate the politicians
‘Anti-Labour Party’Forces at work again!!!
I so agree with this piece.
Yes, our for-fathers said and did not do.
Black people the world over has forgotten their history, they have a few dollars in their pocket they now call it freedom.
Both sexes do their very best to look anything but black.when last you saw a black woman singer with her natural skin and hair, like the sisters of struggle back in the day, even some of those have now joined the line of wanna be anything but Black.
Athie Martin I would like to shake your hand. Your article is so so so relevant. Too often I just hear talk talk talk and no action. And when a foreigner like Peace Corp. or whatever steps in to help people just listen for a short time then fall by the wayside. As President Obama said ” Our destiny is not written for us but by us.
the heart of man is evil…but yes there are measures that can be taken that would have positive outcomes
but you see we can be manipulated so easily….from primary school to adulthood, who are the popular ones? this group thinking mentality, how can it be changed?….
yes we can make some radical/major change if we want too ..Dominica is small enough to accomplish that….but I’m loosing hope myself..just look at the amount of money spent on the airport,yet planes can’t land at night…well i think this project was undertaken to enrich themselves..
give their friends job…while getting kickbacks…they should have given me that money to party instead and it would have been put to better use…
yet the majority sit back and praise these leaders…
Wow, great piece indeed inspite of a few gramatical errors.
I feel your pain Mr. Martin. At least you were bold enough to take part of the responsibilities for the failures of the past.
I pray that we will all take heed and do the right thing for the love of country. Its time we as a nation change the ills of society. get rid of the corruption and focus on self sufficiency as a start. We should NOT be importing things like carrots, pork, chicken, celery etc. Where have the good old fighting Dominican spirit gone?
very interesting.
The musician from Dominica playing Bass IS “jumbo” from layou/St.joseph.
His music is very much inspired by ALPHA BLONDY a reggae singer also from the Ivory coast. His backing band was for a long time Dominican musicians living in Paris like Julie Mourillon and Rome ‘IBIS” Lawrence.
Did you see the Dominican Bass Player in the video? Look at the video at 12:38. he is clearly visible.