Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive Member Dr. David Hinds says he is willing to fight for the rights of the artist known as “Baby Skello,” days after he released a song depicting sexual activities with a Hindu goddess.
During his “Politics 101” show, Dr. Hinds drew a parallel to the lyrics with those of popular musicians, including “Sparrow”, who released music to “break the barriers” between religion and “the party”.
“Imagine the shock with this government arresting an artist for singing a song – according to them, ‘desecrating the Hindu Goddess’. Now, you can disagree with the lyrics of any song. There are some songs that I disagree with the lyrics, but if I in the dance and the song playing – ah dancing,” the politician said.
He added, “I do not necessarily agree with Sparrow about the Congo Man story. I think it is the portrayal of the Black man going after White women and that whole stereotype. I’m not necessarily happy with it, but if I in the dance and the Congo Man come on – ah dancin’ through.”
Dr. Hinds said there is a difference between disagreeing with the lyrics of a song and “taking away the license of the artist.
“The artist, like the scholar, has license to interpret the World as he or she sees it. Martin Carter in one of his poems talks: ‘when the lights come out at night, only the wh*res could dance’. He’s talking about prostitution late at night. You can disagree with it, but to take away the licence of the artiste to express herself or himself, you’re taking it to another level.
He added that the artist has the licence to take people’s experience, refine it and give it back to the people as “nourishment”.
Dr. Hinds later admitted to not listening to the song released Baby Skello depicting sexual activities with the goddess.
He noted nonetheless, “It is the artist’s right to explain and interpret the world as she or he sees it. People can think what they want about the artist Skello but you know what? I refuse to listen to that song, and the reason why I refuse to listen to it, is [because] I don’t want to get into the business of condemning an artist. So, I have not listened to it, but I respect and will fight for the right of the artist to express himself or herself. “
