ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Women Against Rape (WAR) has taken issue with veteran soca band Onyan and the Burning Flames over this year’s tune entitled Kick Een She Back Doh. The local women’s advocacy group called for the catchy Carnival melody to be banned from the airwaves.
“Unacceptable” and ‘extremely offensive” are words President Alexandrina Wong used to describe the lyrics of the tune. She said she has been approached by members of the group as well as the general public on the matter.
“It speaks to violence. Kicking down speaks to violence. It alludes to a non-consensual behaviour. If you don’t get it in the front door, if you don’t get it in the side door, kick down the back door. So what it is basically saying is resort to physical violence in order to achieve whatever. To put it frankly, the song encourages rape,” Wong said.
The Flames are no to strangers to suggestive lyrics and innuendoes, as chronicled by songs like Swinging Engine and Chook and Dig, but this particular tune has ruffled more than a few feathers.
Wong also noted that while Carnival songs are traditionally sexual in nature, this song adds a different element because it promotes illegal activity.
“It implies anal sex and according to the laws of Antigua & Barbuda, anal sex, whether in the public or the private sphere is illegal. It strongly suggests that type of behaviour; rape and or buggery.”
Without speaking directly to censorship, Wong asked for a review of future songs before their release.
“It’s not (about) what musicians like,” she maintained. “It’s what’s best for the women and families in Antigua & Barbuda and it’s time we take a step back to see how we’ve done things in the past and how it affected the society at large,” the women’s advocate said.
WAR is also calling upon the Minister responsible for Gender Affairs, Dr Jacqui Quinn- Leandro and Minister of Information & Technology, Dr Edmond Mansoor, to take the necessary steps to ensure that the nation’s media houses and all “agencies connected with the media and carnival immediately stop playing the song in public.”
Asked to comment on the controversy, the Burning Flames front man was terse in his response.
“I don’t have to justify anything to anybody,” he told OBSERVER Media. “If they want to ban the song then ban it,” Onyan declared.
(More in today’s Daily OBSERVER)
I wish then would ban them Jamaican Song that preach to kill. But guess in Antigua then only hurt then own people.
Only in Antigua !
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Banning the song will only increase its popularity and may inspire a road march win. The woman screaming is a bit much but pairing this song to rape, buggery and violence is a bit too much for my imagination. Prior to this drive to ban the song, its association with such societal ills frankly had not even crossed my mind. Pandora’s box has been opened, get ready for the consequence.
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I totally agree that the song should be banned. People whether you want to accept it or not Burning Flames/Red Hot is very influential. Music can influence people by the music alone or in combination with lyrics. Music may invoke certain feelings or memories. Many people can associate a song to a particular period of their lives. Music is a way of life, one can relate to music. Music influences our moods, if i listen to a happy songs it picks me up. I do cry when i listen to a patriotic song. What is this song telling a angry man or woman who needs to get in the DOH?
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This song should be banned. It is promoting violence against women in no uncertain terms. The comparison to previous songs such as “Swinging Engine” and “Chuk and Dig” … musical hits which have been embraced regionally and internationally … does not hold up. They were sexual references yes, but sufficiently nuanced and culturally appropriate. There is nothing nuanced or appropriate about “Kick In She Back Do.” It is an outright reference to violence against women, sexual violence, and should be unacceptable. Even in a socity such as ours where sexual references in our music and dance are culturally acceptable, this crosses the line. And it comes at a time when we see an upsurge in violence in our society, dealing with serial rapes, domestic violence, violence against children and such ills. I understand artistic freedom and freedom of expression in general. But for Heaven’s sake, with freedoms come responsibility and if artists cannot exercise such responsibility then the authorities should step in. The song sends a terrible message and inaction by the authorities is enabling that message.
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Ban the song! Dem nastiness get too far. Onyan need treatment, he way outta order.
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Yes man,
ban the song. What do you mean, people supposed to be able to freely express their minds. Not in Antigua eeeh eeeh …
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My problem with the song is the word ‘kick’. How is it that kicking in the door of someone who doesn’t want you there not violent?
And why is it that up to now people think children are naive? They know how to maneuver google way more than us and without a trace too. Sadly all the press on this song will just interest them even more.
I know sexual innuendo songs are commonplace and although it may not influence adults I believe this song will sightly help impressionable young boys think that it’s fun and ok to ‘kick’ without permission.
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Its our festive season once again all Antiguans is aware of that, when it comes to our songs(benna music)Antiguan people love stupidness especially Yes “di baccahnal tune an dem”. The song talks about kicking in back door,metaphoracally it speaks about man and woman doing what ever they do behind close doors, you can tell me bugguary is against the law(yes) privately in someones own space its their decision to do whatever it take to satisfy each other, but only byas and people of antisocialism would get a wrong take upon the music.Am for the music majority of antigua either have that on CDs,Phone and even download to their PC that song would never go dead let’s just enjoy the carnival music.
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I wonder if the men who think the song is cool would still have the same feeling were the lyrics to change to “kick in HIS back door”?! Also, I find it interesting that someone actually suggested that the women are to be blamed for being raped. It was a surprise. Wait! I take that back. I not surprised at all. After all, according to “Dess”, since so many people out there love the song, we should ignore any voices of dissent in order to please all those people out there.
Following that road usually does not end well.
Vincy-K, I disagree with you so so much. Which kids you referring to? Cause the only thing dem kids around here don’t know about is how to go look for cow. ( I wonder if even you know what i talking bout?)
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It is Joanne Hillhouse and WAR dirty minds at work…there is nothing lewd or suggestive about the song.. Why didnt they ban Tian’s Crash in your Bumpa, Or Chi Chi man by Danski, or The awful lewd song by Young Destroyer – Deep. That song is one of the most classless i have heard in years. Why are they not advocating about the sexual innuendo in it? No where in that song suggests buggery!! I have heard so many songs locally and otherwise on our airwaves not fit for public consumption even with blatant derogatory and indecent language and I dont see anyone speaking out against them… Are we picking out battles?? if you are speaking out speak out against ALL in order not to seem BIASED!!!
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There is only 1 thing fundamentally wrong with the song and that is the squeeeking door and the woman screaming for help at the top of the song.I think if edited it would be the best masked song ive heard coming out of Antigua for the past 10 years.
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I think this is just stupidness and i feel red hot flames is behind of this too …. Kick en she back doh shouldnt be bann Its very ridiculous Because alot of people out there love the song and i dont find a problem with it …. Iz woman put themselves out there to get rape by the way they dress not a song ok … So therefore this is Shyt u doing …….! -.-
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“Iz woman put themselves out there to get rape by the way they dress not a song ok ”
I’ll assume you’re attempting to be facetious with that statement….
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this song is one of the sweetest soca song to come out of the Caribbean for this year it’s already a big tune all over the caribbean so antgua let the tune play on the air waves an be proud of your very own onyan & burning flames
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So many shitty songs out there, I hear them on the radio stations every day. If this song is banned, then all the others should be banned.
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My point exactly!… Ban the song…
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why should you banned the song there is nothing wrong the lyrics of the song am sure if you listen to the song properly you will see there is no vulgar lyrics or any bad or dragative words in the song, maybe the song have a meaning that our society knows but its the same society that blowing the song out of propotion kids nowadys dont know what kick een back doh means is we the are the ones helping them to know that since this song released, and there are worst song out there am not hearing anyone talking about. the song is a great song.i dont hear any where in the song talk about rape, sex,buggary or any illigal activities or sexual activities for that matter, Hats off to Onyan.
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