FMS-Blog : The Wildly Whimsical, Mostly Musical WebLog
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Time to See an End to the MOBO's?
This year's MOBO awards ceremony will be broadcast live on BBC Three (the digital television channel) on 20th September and once again as it approaches I am filled with mixed feelings about the validity of putting on a show to specifically celebrate music of 'black' origin to the exclusion of all other musics.
Firstly, it would be interesting to find out who it is that deems a piece of music as having black origins or otherwise. We know that, for example, jazz has its roots in West Africa and yet to date no jazz performers, of any ethnicity, seem to have featured in any major way at any of the awards. As an extension to this argument, it would be perfectly plausible to trace routes of most western 'pop' and 'rock' music back in one direction to black communities worldwide. So, I am intrigued as to where the organisers of this event draw the line as to what does and does not constitute music of black origins. To be quite frank, it seems to be the case that if your music is vaguely in the reggae, R&B or gangster-rap type bracket then you're in. Any other musicians can forget it, whatever genre they work in and whatever colour their skin.
Advocates of the MOBO's often cite past winners of these awards as evidence that there is nothing racist about the way it is put together, specifically wins by Eminem and Mick Hucknall of Simply Red. But for me there is still something deeply concerning about the need in our multicultural, 21st Century world to categorise our music as either being white or black. Those on the far right wing of white British and American culture often argue that the televising of the MOBO's demonstrates how the evil of racism has tipped in favour of people with brown skin (perhaps they wouldn't normally put it in quite those words!) and that a MOWO would not be tolerated by anti-fascist groups. My response is that these MOBO awards have obviously grown out of a cultural need for black people to be recognised for their massive contribution to music and the arts - a recognition that is wholly deserved and a need that must be addressed. It is not an inherent and explicit sense of racism on the part of the organisers that I believe to be the reason for these events, but they must see that by excluding any music that is considered to have 'white' routes (as if such a thing truly exists) they are contributing to the mindset of a fractured society.
The MOBO's in my eyes cannot be likened to Classical Music Awards, dealing with music of certain genres that are governed by the characteristics of the works themselves. Even though the majority of Western Classical Music would be considered whiter-than-white by many, it is not the ethnicity of its artists, listeners, supporters or heritage that categorises it as suitable for one event or other but the content of the music itself. If the awards we were talking about were, for example, exclusively for music of the hip-hop style then the question of whether or not the event is ethical would not come up, even if each and every participant of the ceremony were black, white or yellow. Having said that, race doesn't seem to be the only sticking point with groups who are concerned about the nature of the MOBO's : back in 2002 gay rights activists protested outside the ceremony in London because three of the nominees were known for singing lyrics that urge the murder of homosexuals.
I personally think that the popularity of the MOBO awards as they currently stand is a clear indication of very serious underlying problems in the way we see ourselves in the Western World. Yes, it is fascinating to look back at our history and see how people of all ethnicities have come together, each contributing in different ways to various aspects of our current musical culture, but in the present day there is no more need to classify music as black or white as there is to put any weight on those classifications of the people themselves. So, why am I reading in the news today that Beyonce Knowles is heading up the nominations for a competition that is closed to music that somebody has decided is not black enough?
Music's true ethnic origin can not be traced as purely one colour or other, any more than can the bloodline of the very people who make up the population of the Western World - as far as I'm concerned, such a scenerio is neither realistic nor desirable. Once we accept this truth we'll be closer to understanding the nature of our multicultural society, being able to empathise with those whose cultural backgrounds have differences to our own, and to putting an end to racism and its close cousins - divisive concepts such as the MOBO's.
Firstly, it would be interesting to find out who it is that deems a piece of music as having black origins or otherwise. We know that, for example, jazz has its roots in West Africa and yet to date no jazz performers, of any ethnicity, seem to have featured in any major way at any of the awards. As an extension to this argument, it would be perfectly plausible to trace routes of most western 'pop' and 'rock' music back in one direction to black communities worldwide. So, I am intrigued as to where the organisers of this event draw the line as to what does and does not constitute music of black origins. To be quite frank, it seems to be the case that if your music is vaguely in the reggae, R&B or gangster-rap type bracket then you're in. Any other musicians can forget it, whatever genre they work in and whatever colour their skin.
Advocates of the MOBO's often cite past winners of these awards as evidence that there is nothing racist about the way it is put together, specifically wins by Eminem and Mick Hucknall of Simply Red. But for me there is still something deeply concerning about the need in our multicultural, 21st Century world to categorise our music as either being white or black. Those on the far right wing of white British and American culture often argue that the televising of the MOBO's demonstrates how the evil of racism has tipped in favour of people with brown skin (perhaps they wouldn't normally put it in quite those words!) and that a MOWO would not be tolerated by anti-fascist groups. My response is that these MOBO awards have obviously grown out of a cultural need for black people to be recognised for their massive contribution to music and the arts - a recognition that is wholly deserved and a need that must be addressed. It is not an inherent and explicit sense of racism on the part of the organisers that I believe to be the reason for these events, but they must see that by excluding any music that is considered to have 'white' routes (as if such a thing truly exists) they are contributing to the mindset of a fractured society.
The MOBO's in my eyes cannot be likened to Classical Music Awards, dealing with music of certain genres that are governed by the characteristics of the works themselves. Even though the majority of Western Classical Music would be considered whiter-than-white by many, it is not the ethnicity of its artists, listeners, supporters or heritage that categorises it as suitable for one event or other but the content of the music itself. If the awards we were talking about were, for example, exclusively for music of the hip-hop style then the question of whether or not the event is ethical would not come up, even if each and every participant of the ceremony were black, white or yellow. Having said that, race doesn't seem to be the only sticking point with groups who are concerned about the nature of the MOBO's : back in 2002 gay rights activists protested outside the ceremony in London because three of the nominees were known for singing lyrics that urge the murder of homosexuals.
I personally think that the popularity of the MOBO awards as they currently stand is a clear indication of very serious underlying problems in the way we see ourselves in the Western World. Yes, it is fascinating to look back at our history and see how people of all ethnicities have come together, each contributing in different ways to various aspects of our current musical culture, but in the present day there is no more need to classify music as black or white as there is to put any weight on those classifications of the people themselves. So, why am I reading in the news today that Beyonce Knowles is heading up the nominations for a competition that is closed to music that somebody has decided is not black enough?
Music's true ethnic origin can not be traced as purely one colour or other, any more than can the bloodline of the very people who make up the population of the Western World - as far as I'm concerned, such a scenerio is neither realistic nor desirable. Once we accept this truth we'll be closer to understanding the nature of our multicultural society, being able to empathise with those whose cultural backgrounds have differences to our own, and to putting an end to racism and its close cousins - divisive concepts such as the MOBO's.
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I find it hard to see why you are unable to see the need for an awards ceremony as the Mobos. If you think we live in an equal or fair society (or anything even close) then you are sadly mistaken and I can only make the generalistic assumption that you probably are a white male insensitive or blind to the fact that black artists do not get recognition in the UK, even though you vaguely alluded to this in your article. If you are able to cast your mind back to not too long ago when Craid David, at the top of his game received 6 Brits nominations and was awarded NOTHING even though his contribution to UK music had been phenonminal. If he was the Kaiser Chiefs or some such white act, Im sure this would not be the case. Take for example Lemar, a soulful singer with (in my opinion) the best male voice in the UK for a long time but he will always lose out everytime when put against someone like Robbie Williams. Unbiased UK? I don't think so. So again I state the need for a MOBO ceremony as it gives recognition to artists who have been largely ignored by the mainstream and gives black kids a show that they can watch on the TV that is actually 90% ethnically featured- another area that is grossly under represented - TELEVISION. But that is another day. I have now stepped off my soapbox...
Thanks for your comments - I take your point on board.
I understand that our society isn't nearly equal or fair enough but I think we need to address this issue more generally. I can't think how an award ceremony exclusively for music of black origins is going to bring us closer to a solution to the problem.
My ethnicity is quite beside the point - yes, I am white but this fact does not stop me from trying to empathise with people of other races and backgrounds.
Anyway, thanks again for your contribution.
I understand that our society isn't nearly equal or fair enough but I think we need to address this issue more generally. I can't think how an award ceremony exclusively for music of black origins is going to bring us closer to a solution to the problem.
My ethnicity is quite beside the point - yes, I am white but this fact does not stop me from trying to empathise with people of other races and backgrounds.
Anyway, thanks again for your contribution.
To the above poster,
He made assumptions that the author was white and insensitive to the face black don't get recognition when the same kind of accusation could be levelled at him, a black guy who's incesitive that we don't live in 1960 America and blames racism every time a black person gets beaten to an award by a white person. The race card I believe it's called.
He says that Craig david was nominated 6 times at one event and won nothing, well guess what pal? He got beaten by better and more successful artists. The fact he got nominated 6 times should show how muc the Brits aren't racist and rated the guy. As for Robbie vs Lemar, get serious man look at their CD sales, number ones, concert sizes and Robbie beats Lemar hands down so how can you give an award to a less succesful artist?
The MOBOs are racist in my book and a MOWOs would never be tolerated. If I were black I'd be insulted by the awards as I would want to be the best at my genre, and not just the best black person in my genre....
He made assumptions that the author was white and insensitive to the face black don't get recognition when the same kind of accusation could be levelled at him, a black guy who's incesitive that we don't live in 1960 America and blames racism every time a black person gets beaten to an award by a white person. The race card I believe it's called.
He says that Craig david was nominated 6 times at one event and won nothing, well guess what pal? He got beaten by better and more successful artists. The fact he got nominated 6 times should show how muc the Brits aren't racist and rated the guy. As for Robbie vs Lemar, get serious man look at their CD sales, number ones, concert sizes and Robbie beats Lemar hands down so how can you give an award to a less succesful artist?
The MOBOs are racist in my book and a MOWOs would never be tolerated. If I were black I'd be insulted by the awards as I would want to be the best at my genre, and not just the best black person in my genre....
Everybody's complaining about the Mobos poor representation but how can we complain when we dont even support our own upcoming homegrown talent, I was selling Cd's in Camden about a year ago and people would ignore me as though im peddling crack! Even Dizzy didnt turn up to get his award! what a @$?*ing cheek he hasnt made a big tune since boy in the corner album (funny how he can turn up to the white mans mercury awards and where they give you money, so glad he didnt get !, @$?k dat yout) i was pissed when i saw he didnt turn up when dudes like Kano and Tinchy are on tha grind, i think he thinks he's some superstar or somethin with that WACK tune ' old skool', drifting off the point, anyway we need to start supporting our own, people wouldnt even stop to listen to my music unless 50cent was on it and all the while im thinking what the hell can you relate to with 50 apart from the fact he's black and 'Was' a hustler, we need to stop ing bitchin about the mobos and look at ourselves cos at the end of the day who can ignore an artist with the UK 100% behind his back, actually thats given me an idea for a track! look out for 'UK Behind Me!' Peace
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