Keznamdi sets the record straight

Reggae artiste Keznamdi has sought to clarify comments he made concerning his nationality. The Natty Dreadlocks singer was quoted in this newspaper yesterday as saying, "I am very embarrassed at present to call myself Jamaican". He has since said that the comment was taken out of context.

"The main point is not about 'Keznamdi embarrassment about being Jamaican'. The main message is that loud noise is needed from reggae musicians and the public to demand justice and turn over Jamaica's colonial laws and policies that stifle Rasta progress. This is what we all need to rally on together to show the Government that we serious on these specific demands," the Victory singer said.

His condemnation of the 'system' comes at a time of public outrage at the alleged trimming of a Rastafarian teen, Nzinga King, while she was in police custody last month. The Police High Command, the Independent Commission of Investigations and the Office of the Public Defender are probing the matter.

The artiste said that the "violation with Nzinga" represents "the latest lash of Babylon's whip."

"If we not all feeling disgust when Jamaican authorities violate basic human rights and culture den something really wrong. We should all feel embarrassed that Jamaica exploits Rasta as a major branding strategy, yet will outright disrespect and deny Rasta opportunities," Keznamdi said.

"We should all feel embarrassed that Jamaica is home of Rastafari yet is the last country in the Caribbean to protect Rastafari rights and allow the movement to advance economically," he shared.

"The Barbados government has given over 60 acres of land for the Rastafari community to grow ganja and to put them at the centre of the medical cannabis industry in the country.

An international apology

The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda made an international apology for the decades of discrimination against Rastas and established a consortium to ensure Rastafari inclusion in the granting of cannabis licences.

In St Lucia, the University of the West Indies negotiated 20 million pounds in reparations from a University in Britain and is supporting Rastafari works," the entertainer said.

He continued: "So yeh ..... mi nah tek back nuh talk - mi embarrass to seh Jamaica emancipated and independent when we are not freeing Rasta to rise up to its rightful place. The Jamaica I proud of is the one that fully accept Rasta as a core part of the culture and support it in a real way, not jus use us and abuse us."