Whilst deploring censorship, the organisers of this year's Music of Black Origin (MOBO) awards have nevertheless, in what is perhaps a surprising but very welcome move, excluded reggae and dancehall musicians who include homophobic lyrics in their songs. Affected are those such as Beenie Man (real name - Anthony Moses Davies) and Buju Banton.
Beenie Man has already been eliminated from a number of concerts in his recent US tour, after several in the UK were cancelled and it seems that several concerts Buju Banton was to have given in Germany are likewise to be cancelled after the sponsors withdrew their support.
It is becoming more and more difficult for those who peddle hate in their songs to perform in front of paying audiences - this is a tremendously welcome development. Either they will have to change their ways, or their commercial futures will be in jeopardy.
UPDATE: (Wednesday 25AUG 14.40 BST) It seems that MOBO's stance against anti-gay performers in the upcoming awards may be just as much of an effort to manipulate public opinion as was Beenie Man's recent "apology". Oh well, it sounded hopeful at the time ...
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