Paper short abstract:

An examination of the notion of 'citizenship' through the lens of musical texts from Jamaica.

Paper long abstract:

Jamaican music exists within a milieu of connections - local, regional and international - impacting selves, communities and social structures including legislative frameworks. Drawing on reflections from over 15 years of research on Jamaican popular music, this presentation examines the notion of 'citizenship' through the lens of musical texts from the Caribbean, specifically Jamaica. I foreground amplified sound, in particular, the sound system, as representation using select recordings from the 50 year period of 1969 to 2019. The sound system is articulated as a practice, a form of productive labour, complementary to the labour of citizenship, of nation-building, and celebration of human life. The presentation engages with ideas of belonging/non-belonging, transgression, freedom, and community. Ultimately, the presentation dis/locates the discourse on 'noise', accounting for in/securities, acts of suppression and the transgressive forms of citizenship which have emerged historically and in the contemporary context.