As GenXS Carnival gets ready to ‘Unleash the dragon’ at this year’s carnival road march in April, the band’s co-director, Kino Johnson, has some insightful reminders for ‘Carnival in Jamaica’ naysayers about the island’s soca roots.
He was speaking regarding legendary Soca/Calypso band, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, who was highly influential in the genre’s reach across the Caribbean – including Jamaica.
“From SKA to Mento and Soca to Calypso, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires are pivotal in our Caribbean music. Without them, the advent of the soca/calypso genre would not have been amplified to such a large extent,” Johnson told The Gleaner.
His comments come on the heels of debates over mas’ place within the Jamaican entertainment suite of products, during which many have argued it cannot co-exist with Jamaica’s heavy dancehall culture.
“It all comes back to the ‘80s and the ‘90s, where Byron Lee and the Dragonaires revitalised Soca and the rhythm of calypso. At that point, the genre was not looked down as much as it is now. But historically, Jamaica has been a place of soca because of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires,” Johnson added.
SOCA’S DECLINE
The soca-enthusiast went on to posit that soca died in the early 2000s, and for him, there are three main reasons.
“Firstly, lack of interest from certain cohorts who had power or interest in other spaces. Where there are an interest in a number of spaces that can lead to tensions and collisions.”
Secondly, Johnson argued that Lee’s death left a gap in the industry which has yet to be filled.
“With his absence and his physical passing, there was a changing of the guards, changing of philosophies and a revamped look for carnival in Jamaica and there after a number of groups did not gel well with what soca was looking like,” he said.
Johnson went on to add that those groups range from thought leaders in religious spaces to marketing gurus who didn’t believe the genre was worth putting support behind.
Lastly, Johnson argued that “freedom” and expression that comes with soca got a little too “heated or sexy” for some individuals.
“Sexiness can be seen as nakedness to some. In regards to carnival, that is just a part of the pageantry of the costumes, but in a sense, it’s just overdone by some in the space or thrill seekers – and that is not always wanted,” he continued.
This kind of packaging, Johnson expressed, has almost “pressured the system” into the kind of negative viewpoints held by many today.
“I want my daughters, my nieces, little girls to have fun and revel or play mas. Yes, they will have on costumes, but they will be doctors and lawyers and politicians who have value for themselves. So a balance is important,” he added.
Carnival road march returns to Jamaica’s streets on April 7, and the GenXS band plans to bring out all the stops as they ‘unleash the dragon’.
“For 2024, GenXS wants to unleash the dragon – which are mystical and beautiful beings – all across the streets of Kingston and St Andrew. It will be high quality experience for all your senses, and I can’t wait to see you all there,” Johnson said.