Study needed on session effect on society - Muta

By Steven Jackson

Shocked by the island's nearly 41 sessions a day, dub poet/philosopher Mutabaruka says that intellectuals should study the session effect on society.

"Jamaican people a dance, dance and dance. That is not a good sign, if a country a dance so much something wrong, rasta," he said on radio in response to an Observer article.

The article stated that some 10,000 registered entertainment events were held in Jamaica since January. The vast majority of these events were sessions, a few football matches and bar openings. It means that there were about 41 events every day, or one every 3.7 miles along the island's length. This figure represented registered parties or events and did not include the many promoters who illegally held dances without permits. What is significant is that even low-density parishes such as St Thomas scored above 450 events.

"I don't know if it relieves stress or if it causes stress," he said recently on his weekly talk show. "It is a phenomenon . Jamaica has the most church per square mile and the most bars and now Jamaica have the most dance per square mile. It's unbelievable."

He noted that Jamaica was following the lead of Brazil which "finds every reason to hold a party".

"In Brazil, if they lose a football match they keep a party, if they win a match, they keep a bigger party," he said concluding that an "anthropological study" should be conducted.

Mutabaruka has in the past voiced agreement with the enforcement of the Noise Abatement Act. He argues that night noise violates the rights of sleepy residents. Since last year Government began enforcing the Noise Abatement Act. Under the act, promoters must apply for permits to hold events. The act specifies that events must end by 12 midnight on weekdays and 2:00 am on weekends.

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