Now you may be wondering why I would recommend a book for Valentine’s Day if it has December in the title, but trust me Josie Silver’s debut novel is full of enough charm, realism and tender moments to melt even the iciest hearts this Valentine’s Day. Across London, Scotland, Bali and Australia, we follow the friendship and foibles of Laurie, Jack and Sarah for almost ten years. While the central story is an emotional connection between Laurie and Jack with the romantic fervour to rival Love Actually; “One Day in December” is so much more than a simple love story. It is a highly relatable tale of one’s twenties, wherein Silver expertly addresses the themes of friendship, change and overall turbulence the decade carries in shaping the people we become.
“Come take a look inna Jamaica, injustice in the place. If what you see nuh really faze you, then you ah di problem weh we face too.”- Protoje
Video Source: Protoje’s YouTube Channel | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYZo7CbLJjjfEOqYwknzzow
If you are Jamaican or have any ties to the country, you’ll know that it has been a harrowing time for the nation recently. Despite its reputation, Jamaica has been anything but paradise in the past months as the tropical isle is once again being choked by the vice-like grip of crime and violence. Now, high levels of crime and violence are hardly a new phenomenon for the country. According to the United Nations, Jamaica had the highest murder rate globally in 2005 and it remains one of the highest today[1]. Violent elements of the nation’s history are seen in “Blood Money” with references to the Tivoli Incursion of 2010[2] and the long-standing institutionalized nature of corruption through patronage politics[3]. Historically, such political corruption has cost Jamaica approximately US$18 billion[4]. However, although high levels crime and violence are not new, this does not make them acceptable. Furthermore, crime and violence should not be allowed to spiral out of control unchallenged. As Protoje states, “If you build it pon crime then crime will haffi find you, and that’s how it’s been always. That nuh frustrate you like it do to me?”
It should be said that while violent crime levels in Jamaica were higher than others with a similar per capita profile, they were on the decline nationally until recently. Now, there is a different atmosphere in the air. The general lawlessness, not to mention the elevated abduction and murder of women and girls has struck a chord with the populace. The volatile situation has inspired small scale protests and widespread fear throughout the island.
Moreover, while the situation in Jamaica is alarming; violence, political corruption and socioeconomic stratification are not solely Jamaican issues. As such, Protoje’s single “Blood Money” could not have come at a more appropriate time. Its articulate depiction of the current state of affairs in the country and its call for change are sure to resonate with concerned Jamaicans, reggae aficionados and contemporary viewers of global politics alike.
Well,
Mitch Albom (Tuesdays with Morrie, The Five People You Meet in Heaven)
has captured our hearts and imaginations once again! This time with his latest
novel, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto. The story is narrated by the
talent, Music, as it recaps the life one of its favorite prodigies, Frankie
Presto. We follow Frankie, orphaned after a tumultuous birth in war-stricken
Francoist Spain, as he is mentored by an elderly blind guitar teacher until
turmoil and danger force the teacher to send Frankie away to America at nine
years old, with nothing but a guitar. Frankie soon learns that when he plays
the guitar in dire circumstances, the strings turn blue, and his music can
change and even save lives.
For today, I am discussing the Jobedu clothing line that I learned about while I was in Jordan. I was studying Arabic at the University of Jordan in Amman when some friends told me about this quirky store in Jabal Weibdeh that sold fun and interesting clothes that embodied the city’s growing youth culture. I had complimented the T-Shirt that one of my friends was wearing at the time; a black shirt adorned with the phrase “Parental Advisory: Jordanian Content”, and the conversation flowed from there. A few days later, a group of us were walking down the white cobbled streets of Jabal Weibdeh heading towards the Jobedu store. The buildings around us were all a similar blend of limestone and cement with a view of Downtown Amman in the distance, but we managed to find the store with ease. Outside, the powerful afternoon sun illuminated the streets, casting its light on roadside Nescafe and Tea vendors; but it left the Jobedu store in shadow making it difficult to see what lay inside. I pushed open the glass door and as my eyes adjusted to the light, I was enthralled by the brightly coloured fabrics that lined the walls from the floor to the ceiling.
A short walk down the hill from Tufts University, on the outskirts of Boston, quickly brings you into the bustling streets of Davis Square. There you will find the welcoming aroma of freshly brewed coffee, mingled with the sweet and spicy scent of enchiladas wafting up from the Painted Burro Mexican restaurant. Into this delightful mix ofsights and sounds comes aKorean restaurant to rival any of the culinary competition on the block.
Aptly named "Meju" due to its prevalent use of the popular ingredient throughout its menu; the dishes that come out of this kitchen are so delectable they’ll have you planning your next visit before you've even finished the appetizer. Speaking of starters, Meju has a great selection ranging from traditional dumplings to scallion pancakes, spicy rice cakes and sweet potato fries. A personal favourite is the restaurant’s fusion take on Korean buns. These fluffy, feather-soft buns aredripping in bright orange sauce filled with succulent pork and delectable cream cheese and pickles.
From the outset of Protoje's album, Ancient
Future, with the opening song “Protection”, the album carries with it a raw,
honest quality that immediately invites the listener on an intimate and
exciting journey. This continues to shine through in the reflective, "All
Will Have to Change" and is further expressed through the tales of
love-lost heard in "Love Gone Cold” and “Stylin'."
Protection:
All Will Have to Change:
Stylin’:
Love Gone Cold:
Ancient Future is an aptly named, searing look
into Jamaica's history and what can be surmised about the nation's future,
based on the mistakes of the past. This message comes home starkly in the
track “Criminal” with its reference to the murder of musical and social
icon, Peter Tosh, and is further echoed in the collaborative single
“Sudden Flight” with Jesse Royal and songstress Sevana; a song which highlights
the dangers and hypocrisy of garrison politics [1].
Criminal:
Sudden Flight:
The eleven songs on this album, with
references to Walter Rodney and Marcus Garvey, but also to
notorious gang leaders like Claude Massop, weave intriguing and insightful
stories that expertly analyse the complexity of the nation's strengths and
weaknesses; her frailty and beauty. A beauty which is on full display in
the video for the smash hit “Who Knows”, performed with Protoje’s compatriot,
Chronixx.
Who Knows:
Above all, Ancient Future is a
musical exploration between the past and present that pays homage to the
Jamaican musicians that paved the way for Protoje and his colleagues. This
respect, coupled with Protoje's skillful storytelling is seen most obviously in
his infectious contemporary take on Prince Buster's "Girl Answer to
Your Name":
Prince Buster’s original, “Girl Answer to Your Name”:
Protoje’s, “Answer to Your Name”:
Rastafarian culture imbues every song
on the album. However, its presence is most prominent in the marijuana-centric,
“Bubblin’” and the introspective “The Flame”. “The Flame” provides an intimate
window into the soul of the man behind the music. The lyrics demonstrate that
his passion and dedication to this art form are paramount:
“I
rather be spiritually attained than critically acclaimed…Whatever that dem
saying, whoever that dem claim coulda never know my pain and never bear my
strain…Application ah within, supplication ah to Him. Then it becomes less
about the tune dem weh ah spin, but the knowing that the work was the best it
could’ve been. Having the team deh pon the road ah tour with me, nuh mean a
thing if the message nuh have the purity. And so, me stay substance over hype.”
Protoje's lyricism and musical
dexterity have made him one of the most dynamic voices in a highly talented new
generation of reggae performers. His Coachella performance this spring was the
product of hard work, diligence and commitment to his craft. It is clear
from Ancient Future that Protoje’s popularity and the power of
his music will only intensify, and to paraphrase the artist himself, there is
certainly no way that Babylon can out this flame.
[1] Since Jamaica’s independence in 1962, governance has been dominated by two political parties: the People’s National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).In the late 1960s both parties began to create “garrison communities” to secure political votes and seats in parliament. Garrison communities were towns and neighbourhoods controlled by gang leaders or “dons” who ensured the community’s loyalty to a specific political party through extortion and violence towards its residents. In return, these “dons” received financial rewards from the political party with which they were affiliated, and thus maintained a profound level of power within the community. According to Rupert Lewis in “Party Politics and the Extradition of Christopher “Dudus” Coke”:
Some 20 per cent of all constituencies and approximately 60 per cent of all urban constituencies have already been fully or partially garrisoned. Within a political constituency, a garrison is an area controlled by a leader or don who dispenses scarce benefits and violence in order to keep the constituents aligned to a particular party. This control enables an electoral candidate to win the seat by a large majority and become the Member of Parliament. Garrisons are therefore a central part of the political system because they provide “safe” political seats. Moreover, garrison constituents may assist in the task of political mobilization in other constituencies. Tivoli Gardens has been the main symbol of a garrison, but it is one of several and was deemed special, largely because it was well-armed and organized, had its own mechanisms for dispensing justice, and was informally outside the purview of the state until May 2010. The extradition of Coke and the subordination of Tivoli Gardens to the rule of law are the first major assaults on garrison politics and the power of dons whose financial and gun power give them influence, putting them in a position to significantly determine the outcomes of both local and national politics. (p.41)
