I have a major issue with the double standard and dishonesty of gay people who are hell bent on sustaining the lie that reggae music promotes violence or that DJ Buju Banton promotes the murder of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transexual people. There is no evidence that any of these claims are true.

What is actually true is that Buju did record a song called “Boom Bye Bye” which did express strong condemnation of homosexual individuals and practices. But that was 20 years ago! He has since apologised for this and no longer performs this song in his set. This has clearly not satisfied gay groups like the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center and others which are campaigning against his current album “Rasta Got Soul” from winning the 2010 Reggae Grammy.

The album is an excellent collection of songs that celebrates the joys of a Rastafarian lifestyle as well as highlighting social deprivation, love themes, spiritual upliftment and socio-political observations. There is nothing on this album lashing out at homosexuality. Buju’s 1995 conversion to Rastafarianism is the chief focus not only in this collection but also in his life generally.

This has not stopped the LA GLC from being “rather upset” at “the appalling Grammy nomination for Buju Banton, a performer whose music promotes the violent murder of LGBT people.” Apart from being a barefaced lie this statement is maliciously evil and is designed to demonise not only Buju but reggae music and Jamaica in the process. This is unforgiveable.

Gay groups would like Buju to speak out for gay rights in Jamaica but since homosexuality is not something a bonafide Rastaman like Buju can support, this has not been forthcoming. And why should he make such public service announcements? That would be like asking a strict vegetarian to eat meat to curry favour with meat eaters or a fundamental Jew to embrace Islam to make Muslims feel good.

I believe the gays continued action against Buju is vindictive, malicious and unfair. It speaks volume that while they are comfortable with the freedom and right to promote their lifestyle choice without hinderance they are happy to prevent a Rastaman from enjoying the same privilege to promote his soulfully uplifting music.

If that’s not grand hypocrisy then please tell me, my dear friend, what is.

This year 39 artists submitted albums for Reggae Grammy 2010 consideration from which the final five albums were selected to be voted on. The eligibility period ran from October 1, 2008 and August 31, 2009.

The actual 2010 Grammy Awards ceremony itself will be held on January 31, 2010 at the Staples Centre in downtown Los Angeles, California, USA.

The final five:-1. Rasta Got Soul

1. Jamaican music (this include roots rock reggae, dancehall reggae, ska, rock steady, mento).
2. Gangsta (or bad boy) Style (Jamaica introduced the style conscious to wearing their shirts outside their pants.
3. The foundation for rap (Jamaica invented the concept for rap back in the late 1960s/early 1970s and called it “toasting”. On Bob Marley’s “Put It On” he sings: ‘I’m not boasting…feel like toasting’…).
4. Dub (instrumental version of a track’s A side, usually spiced up with echo and other effects).
5. The Remix (we call it the version where you basically have the one rhythm and slight variation of content on it. For instance you could have a singer, a rapper, an instrumentalist, etc. all doing their own special performance on the one basic rhythm track).
6. The DiscoMix (long-playing 12″ vinyl records, now largely obsolete.).
7. Bob Marley & the Wailers (Marley’s ability to unite opposing politicians and sensitise the world to the dynamics of Jamaica’s indigenous music, the beauty of our local woman in the form of a Jamaican Miss World and politics is still a landmark).
8. Personalities (Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Mary Seacole).
9. Rastafarianism.
10. Dreadlocks.
11. Bauxite (Jamaica is currently the world’s second largest exporter of Bauxite, falling short only to the much larger Australia. In an earlier decade it was the world’s biggest exporter of bauxite, the raw material for aluminium).
12. World, record breaking athletes (among them, of course, Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Donald Quarrie, Merlene Ottey, Herbert McKenley, just to name a few).
13. Inspiring Holiday Destination (home of author Ian Fleming, creator of the James Bond novels; through Sandals Jamaica invented the all-inclusive holiday resort concept.)
14. Jamaican patois (Ali G’s displacement of Jamaican language and style is what gave the character his quirky resonance).
15. Gold (at one point Jamaica was the gold capital of the world, attracting many pirates from all parts of the globe.).
16. Sugar.
17. Rum.
18. Liquor (Tia Maria and others).
19. Ganja (Jamaica’s term for marijuana; also called The Weed, among others.).
20. Blue Mountain Coffee.

Can you think of other ways Jamaica has impacted on the world?