For the last four decades dancehall has ruled the airwaves, street dances and concerts in Jamaica. It has been the easiest and most profitable way for many people to move from obscurity to celebrity. Many well known celebrities like Drake, DJ Khaled, Rihanna, Burna Boy and more have come to Jamaica and seek to profit from dancehall’s cultural capital by using the lifestyle and culture as a marketing tool. While the world is more familiar with dancehall’s image as a fun experience, wild youthful exuberance, good food, music and culture, some of the actions promoted in the genre can be deadly.
Here are the 4 deadliest dancehall trends that have stained the genre over the years:
- Bottle Throwing
The dancehall show Sting, which is the longest running dancehall show in the world, happened in Jamaica for 34 years on Boxing Day (December 26) every year. During that time the concert was known to have onstage clashes as the zenith of the show between two top acts. Every event was also marked by the throwing of empty bottles on stage which usually bring the clash to an end and cause a stampede. One year dancehall deejay Supercat threw a bottle back in the crowd and both him and Ninja Man echoed the sentiment that they will “shot a man Inna the crowd.”
Throughout the show’s three decade reign, several reported injuries have happened at dancehall shows and people have even died as a result of bottle throwing and the subsequent pandemonium.
In 2003 a CVM-TV cameraman was hospitalized along with 20 other patrons when a stampede happened at the concert at Jamworld Entertainment Centre in Portmore, St Catherine after a fight broke out between Vybz Kartel and Ninja Man. The latter also suffered a broken nose.
2. Gun Salutes
When Bounty Killer was introduced to Jamaica and the world his first words were “People Dead” in response to Beenie Man who was on stage inviting him for a clash in 1992.
His voice is so strong some people say the ground shook from the screaming crowds. In the backdrop of the shouts, shots rang out in the venue in gun salute. This practice was a keynote of Bounty Killer’s performance over the years. His enigmatic energy elicits salutes from the roughest who aren’t afraid to sound off in the venue. Only recently dancehall DJ Skeng, 21, was banned from Guyana for gun salutes that took place in the venue while he performed. While the euphoria overtook the National Park for the Baderation event several shots belted out to his “Protocol” lyrics. The energy of his 15 minute set lifted when the Spanish Town artist threw water on the engaged patrons.
Mhm. I exited. Immediately 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/NUo46Y2HOv
— throat goat 🙂↕️ (@brxtanyy) May 28, 2022
Things took a dangerous turn as gunshots rang out amidst the euphoria in support of the young DJ and that was when Skeng was escorted off the stage. A stampede ensued and patrons scurried to exit the venue.
3. Fire Torches
One of the ways artists measure their success in dancehall is how much fire can be seen in the crowd as they perform. Even at Reggae Sumfest where thousands of tourists come each year, fire is a keynote of the performances in the center of the crowd.
Artists encourage their fans to put up fire torches which is done by spraying an aerosol can of insect spray and setting it ablaze with a lighter. I have even seen where they set an entire garbage can afire and the crown disbursed.
There are not enough first responders in any country to assist if there should be a massive outbreak of this uncontrollable fire. Still the practice will be a keynote of several upcoming festivals and dancehall events in the island.
4. Skin Bleaching
Dancehall culture is the child of reggae’s culture but modern dancehall has drifted from its black conscious roots of the 60s and 70s. A keynote of many artists is lightening their skin using bleaching cream. This practice is then picked up by danchallers who follow the flow of their favorite artists. Skin bleaching products such as hydroquinone, reduces the melanocytes in the skin which results in the lighter appearance. As far back as 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that over-the-counter (OTC) skin bleaching products are not recognized as safe and effective for use on humans based on review. There is also mercury to be found in some products according to a 2014 study about lightening creams bought online.
Still dancehall artists not only sing about the use of these cream but they use it themselves to be “cool like they wash them face with the cake soap.”
