I honestly don't know why Trinidadians like to follow shit so
Seeing beyond the Gaza/Gully smoke screen: The social issues underlying dancehall tribalism
Published: Sunday | September 13, 2009
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090913/ent/ent1.htmlRoxroy McLean and LeVaughn Flynn, Gleaner Writers
(Left) Vybz Kartel ... All these areas that these 'Gaza' or 'Gully' incidents occur are the same areas that were violent from day one. (Right) Mavado ... My message is that people shouldn't make Mavado and Vybz Kartel determine their life, future and freedom.
The words are quickly becoming the most prominent graffiti across the island. 'Gaza' and 'Gully' can be seen scribbled almost everywhere. In most garrisons they are as common as the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and People's National Party (PNP) signs.
And, like the political impact, the 'Gaza/Gully' feud has the potential to be as socially and psychologically imprisoning on its followers.
The dancehall cliques are tied to the two most popular deejays - Adidja 'Vybz Kartel' Palmer (Gaza) and David 'Mavado' Brooks (Gully).
The names represent the area of their residence and home of their fan base. 'Gaza' is a section of the Waterford housing scheme in Portmore where Vybz Kartel grew up and lived for many years. 'Gully' represents the actual gully which dissects Mavado's childhood community of Cassava Piece in St Andrew.
But in the last year, they have come to mean much more. Following the highly publicised lyrical clash between Mavado and Vybz Kartel at Sting in December, a clannish divide has been created in segments of the society as fans latch on to their favourite artiste.
Other deejays and sound system operators have also been choosing sides, deepening the divide and adding potency to the tense relationship between the two factions.
Anthropologist of social violence, Dr Herbert Gayle, believes that the majority of the 'Gaza' and 'Gully' supporters who use violence to show their allegiance are victims of inadequate social development.
Gayle, who lectures at the University of West Indies, Mona, told The Sunday Gleaner that this behaviour will continue until there are proper infrastructure in these rigid inner-city communities to promote social development.
"Some of these communities have no social institutions - no 4-H clubs, no craft centre, no trading centre, no nothing. So the issue with these young people is really a matter of identity," Gayle said.
"All human beings have a need to belong. The poorer you are and the scarcer the resources (such as social development centres) is the more competitive and combative the war is," he added.
Gayle opined that the dancehall feud is worse than the political one.
"There is nothing to gain physically, or nobody gets paid to be a 'Gaza' or 'Gully' supporter. It, in fact, is even worse than politics, because at least politicians would give these kids a hundred dollars and stuff," he said.
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