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Fire Inna Dancehall

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What to expect

'A whistle-stop tour de force with an expert guide . . . Pure fire.' Symeon Brown

'A smorgasbord of fascinating cameos . . . [Bardowell's] paid his dues, people, and now it's time to enjoy the fruits of what he's witnessed.' John Masouri, Echoes Magazine

Dancehall isn't just music. It's a philosophy, a survival strategy, a rebellion in riddim.

Fire Inna Dancehall traces the collision of sound, style and struggle that created one of the most influential cultural movements of the past half-century. From inner city Kingston to the council estates of London, the block parties of New York and the underground scenes of Panama and Puerto Rico, ex-reggae columnist Derek A. Bardowell charts the rise, triumphs, controversies and tragedies of a space where joy and resistance share the same rhythm.

Blending in-depth social history and journalistic insight with the movement's revolutionary spirit, Bardowell explores how the pulse of dancehall speaks to migration, masculinity, faith, freedom and the ongoing fight for self-determination to reveal how a sound became a global language of liberation.

A comprehensive guide to the people, places and politics that shaped dancehall and an unapologetic tribute to Black creativity, Fire Inna Dancehall does not seek permission to sing but insists on being heard.

Critics Review

A whistle-stop tour de force with an expert guide. Bardowell pays homage to the streets, the talents and the crews behind Jamaica's most controversial and spellbinding export. This read will bring some much needed clarity to your summer playlist. Pure fire in this book.
Symeon Brown, author of THE GOOD, THE BLACK AND THE BOUJEE
Erudite, engaging and informative . . . It's all here. This makes for a smorgasbord of fascinating cameos which you can dip into at random, rather than read from start to finish . . .[Bardowell's] paid his dues, people, and now it's time to enjoy the fruits of what he's witnessed.
Echoes Magazine
Written with insight, clarity and truth, this is a love letter to Dancehall and a vibrant lesson in social history. Derek has crafted a book of wide and deep cultural legacies that centres vital historical perspectives and unapologetically Black narratives . . . I learned something new from every chapter. Essential reading for anyone with an interest in music, culture, heritage, history, and their various intersections.
Jeffrey Boakye, author of I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID
'Fire Inne Dancehall takes a completely fresh perspective on the material and works it in new ways. It's a pleasure to read.'
Beth Lesser Kingston
Author Derek A. Bardowell
Narrator Des Yankson
Duration 9 hours and 24 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781408773659
Format Audiobook
Publisher John Murray Press
Genre Popular culture
Availability AU, GB, IE

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