JAMAICA-ENTERTAINMENT
Prime Minister intervenes in Gully-Gaza feud

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:21:00 GMT KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - Prime Minister Bruce Golding has stepped in to quell the feud between supporters of two popular dancehall artistes in what has become known as the Gully-Gaza war.   The country’s leader sat down with David “Mavado” Brooks and Adijah “Vybz Kartel” Palmer at Jamaica House on Tuesday, when a five-point plan was outlined to diffuse the tensions between the rival supporters..
  The measures agreed upon include both artistes participating in a peace concert, a “paint out day” to remove Gully/Gaza graffiti from walls in communities and schools across the island, the creation of t-shirts bearing the image of both artistes, and doing a collaboration single.   Following the meeting, the entertainers said there was no bad blood between them and that the feud was sparked by over exuberant fans.   “Me and Vybz we’re not really enemies...we never threw a stone after (each other). It's just about music (but) the fans take it to a next level,” Mavado said.   The rivalry has in recent times spilled over from the dancehall into the education system and fans have taken to acting out the violence described in the Mavado and Vybz Kartel songs.
  Last month the St. Andrew South Police seized several buttons and other paraphernalia which were being sold by vendors outside several Corporate Area schools depicting the darker side of the feud. Both artistes denied any involvement in the distribution of the items.   Palmer said he expected the upcoming single to show fans that there is no need to continue fighting against each other.   “We have plans to do another collaboration because the first time Mavado and I did a song, it was a collaboration (and) those were the happiest days of my life, so that's what we're bringing back.
  “The collaboration is afoot and people need to know that David and I have never had any personal animosity over the years; people just took things out of context, especially impressionable minds, so this is a good move by the government,” he said.
  Meanwhile, entertainment consultant Clyde McKenzie said the Prime Minister's decision to intervene was a good one. He said the Golding administration has acted responsibly by trying to nip in the bud, the Gully/Gaza feud. “I think it's a good first step and I think it speaks to the whole question of how seriously the society takes the whole thing of the influence of artistes on the culture. So yes, let's see if it will work. I give it my best wishes,” McKenzie said.   CMC/kb/bm/09