www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
Danah Alleyne before “action” with Akon
Trinicenter.com
Reporters
April 22, 2007
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a response to the many racist comments about the Akon/Danah video clip, especially those that were initially posted on YouTube, among other websites. The two clips that were initially posted on YouTube were removed together with hundreds of racist comments.
Much of the discussion surrounding the Hip-hop/R&B singer Akon’s performance at club Zen on Thursday 12th April, 2007, is really based on racism, unreasoned sexual hang-ups and hypocrisy. The reactions of many who have been buzzing on the radio and the internet are clearly based on their racist and colourist views that paint Akon as a black animal who assaulted a minor and the female as a young, misguided innocent, who was taken advantage of. This is really quite ridiculous. Harsh reactions have also been fuelled by the fact that many knew she was a preacher’s daughter and she was acting contrary to what her father preaches.
Akon and Danah on stage at Zen
Akon is a performer whose act is well known and has been widely publicized on the internet and other entertainment media. His song “Smack That” leaves little to the imagination as to its theme and as part of the performance for that song, he dances, appearing to simulate sex with willing female participants, who voluntarily come onstage to be a part of this act. Fans of his certainly could have been aware of the act as there were videos of similar performances easily available on the internet and on some television shows.
Several females took the stage at Zen that night to be a part of this ‘wining competition’ where it was stated that the winner would win a trip to Africa. Certainly, Zen played up the idea that Akon is from Senegal by having people in African attire doing African drumming at the entrance of the venue and by starting the show with a similar African theme. It is then not surprising that Akon would be tongue-in-cheek and set himself up as the embodiment of Africa and be the ‘prize’ for a young lady who won the competition. They were quite okay with receiving the attention from the crowd, the media and the artiste that would come with that. No one was forced. Furthermore, anyone who has been to a concert, party or event that features a ‘wining competition’ where girls are invited to wine either for the audience or with the male star, should be well aware of what awaits them – a hyper-sexual performance that glorifies the sexuality of the star and can end up being totally humiliating for the female. In light of this it is hard to really say the girl was totally unaware.
Akon and Danah on stage at Zen
The extent of the racism that has pervaded this discussion internationally cannot go unaddressed. The idea of Africans being sexually potent, virile and uncontrollable is one that is part of a whole set of racist assumptions that have been bandied about for centuries about Africans. Some Africans in the Diaspora have inherited these ideas about continental Africans to the point that there is now a distinction, where continental Africans are seen as more ‘undiluted’, more potent and animalistic. Many on internet forums have commented on this issue in very racist ways about African sexual proclivities as a way to condemn the way he danced with the female. The discussion has taken a turn to sound like a replica of plantation and colonial attitudes where the constant fear by the White male population was the violation of their White women by sexually potent and deviant African males. There is a long history of this ‘fear’ that can be traced throughout history and has certainly been expressed up to this day by East Indian groups and spokespersons in Trinidad who claimed at one time that African men were targeting Indian women for rape. These ideas have influenced the way many people have viewed this incident.
In addition, for many, the light-skinned look of the girl defied their own ideas of ‘the kind of girls that do that’, i.e. blacker, poorer ones, and to see their racist ideas of a black, sex-crazed stud brought to life in their vision of Akon was just too much to take. People are often fine with seeing Black females dancing and doing all sorts of things that they may find lewd and inappropriate, as they find it quite normal for them to do so. They, however, find it shocking that a light-skinned one would dance in ways that they deem lewd and furthermore with an African male. This speaks directly to their own racism and colourism and very little about the act itself or about Akon. It suits them to see the light-skinned young female as innocent and blameless and the African hip-hop singer as guilty and licentious regardless of the truth of the matter. Much of the discussion that has been going on the internet is full of such racist sentiments.
Akon and Danah on stage at Zen
The truth is, the female willingly came to a club, dressed in a way that is typical of older females who are used to the club scene, was allowed in, despite what Zen says are its rigid age checks, and willingly volunteered herself to dance on the stage in a competition for a prize and then with a male artiste. Regardless of whether she could have anticipated the kind of dancing that would have ensued, every step leading up to it was as a result of her own choices. The young lady in question was interviewed by TV6 news last night and in her own words she explained how she got carried away and was embarrassed to see herself afterward as the event was over so quickly that she did not realize that was what had happened or how it would have looked. Nowhere did she blame the artist or say she was abused. Nowhere did she chastise him for the way he danced with her and nowhere did she indicate that she was innocent in the affair. She clearly stated that she went to these clubs against her parent’s advice and that while at the time she did not see any big deal in the dance, when the clips hit the internet and she saw it, she then felt embarrassed and ashamed of the hurt she caused her parents and herself. This seemed to me like an honest recognition by an obviously young teenager, now stripped of her revealing outfit, makeup and fingernails, of an impulsive action that resulted in embarrassment for herself and others only after the fact.
The media, however, does seem to be attempting to distort what was said by the teenager or at the very least carrying contradictory reports. In the Guardian story carried today, the headline reads “I Was Cajoled Into Sexy Dance” which is a direct, deliberate distortion attempting to leave the casual reader with the impression that the teen was cajoled into dancing by the artiste Akon. The article continues:
My parents had no clue I was going to the concert or how I was dressed. I told them I was going with my cousins for ice cream. When I left the house I had on a jacket.
This contradicts what was said in the Newsday article, which states:
Danah said two days before the concert, a friend sponsored her a $450 VIP ticket. She said her parents, who were not present at the interview, knew she was going.
Newsday’s article also states:
Danah, daughter of Pastor Dave Alleyne, of the Flaming Word Ministry in Chaguanas, described her ordeal as shocking and humiliating. She insists she and other girls were deceived into entering a dance competition in which the first place winner would receive a trip to Africa.
While in what seems to be a different attitude, the TV6 interview with the girl herself gives the impression that at the time she did not think it was a big deal but it was only afterward when she saw it that she felt embarrassed.
Now I am sure the girl did feel embarrassed after seeing the video and after some members of the public began condemning her dancing, but it is a bit misleading to give the impression that she did not approve of the dancing while she was doing it. It seems to be a fair assessment that she was carried away in the moment, as she said, and did not think of the consequences. This is quite normal for many young people and many older people and in this case is not even a matter of condemnation and censure.
Akon and Danah on stage at Zen
People who have been commenting on this story have been claiming that the dancing was disgusting, lewd and even abusive to the female. Certainly people can claim to be disgusted by certain behavior; that is their right. People tend to express their disgust for many things; sexual expression is one that certainly raises much commentary. However that really is a matter of personal choice for people to decide what is appropriate for them. People are often quite dishonest and find that many things should be banned, including open truthful discussions about racism, colourism and African history, so it is not really smart to buy too many of their arguments about what is appropriate and what is not. The discussion however, becomes distorted because many comments on this matter have certainly been coming from people who don’t support these kind of expressions anyway: from Carnival to Dancehall Passa Passa to even the bare-breasted dancing of a well-respected South African dance troupe that performed in Trinidad a few years ago. Many people who comment on appropriateness of dancing at these kind of events do not even attend such events, concerts, parties or performances, and like many of those who have commented unfairly on the Akon concert, they have no real legitimate way of judging whether this is normal, whether many females do volunteer to go on stage for these wining competitions or not. They are quite content to blame Akon; an artist who was doing the job that he was paid to do by the nightclub, who should certainly have been aware of his act.
Now, ones could certainly object to what they may see as a particular performance style that is quite common in Hip-hop, Soca, Dancehall as well as some Rock acts and other musical forms; the idea that sex and sexuality must be dealt with in a context of domination, humiliation and the perpetuation of the illusion of dominant über-masculine sexuality. All are participants in that – the males that embrace those attitudes and the females who buy into it and allow themselves to be part of it. This was seen particularly at the end of the dance where Akon ran off and left the young lady on the ground where they had been dancing previously. However up to this point, if ones look at all the pictures from this event, it becomes clear that at the time of the act, the young lady in question did not appear to be distressed or trying to get away. She appeared to be enjoying herself, as did the other females who volunteered to enter this competition. That is their right. Certainly this is an area that can be discussed and reasoned. There are certainly reasons why some may see sexuality in this way and why it is commercially viable for music industry executives to sell this image. However, even in that discussion one has to see that once participants are willing and no one is hurt in these encounters it still remains a matter of taste and personal preference. Once all parties are willing then one cannot talk of anyone being taken advantage of or abused in that context.
Akon and Danah on stage at Zen
One thing that is crystal clear however, is the role of the nightclub, Zen, in the whole affair. It is illegal for nightclubs to admit people under 18 years of age. While Johnny Soong has stated that Zen adheres to a strict age policy where they ask for ID from patrons, the comments of the teenager do not show this at all. In the Express article she says:
“I know a lot of my friends who were my age and were there,” she said.
“They asked for ID in VIP because you have to be 21 years and over to go up in VIP, but anyone was allowed to go in the general admission area.”
In the Guardian article it states:
When they got to the club last week Thursday, she said, they proceeded to the VIP section but were stopped by the bouncers who said they had to be 21 years and over to enter, and asked for their identification cards.
Danah said, “We did not have it so they told us we had to go into general admission and we did.”
While Johnny Soong, owner of the nightclub states that this young lady may have “slipped through the cracks” many who do attend this club and many others can state clearly that many underage females especially are allowed into the nightclub. As a matter of fact, this nightclub in particular seems to be more concerned with admitting, light-skinned and brown-skinned females with a particular look, body shape and dress than about the age of the females. The club has come under fire many times for what some patrons have seen as racist and colour-biased practices in their admission policies. In light of this, it is not hard to see how this female could have been admitted despite the fact that she clearly stated that she did not have ID and was admitted anyway. It is in fact, the same colour bias that many people have displayed in commenting on this issue that led to the underage female being in the club in the first place. I suppose we can wait to see what action, if any, will be taken against the Zen nightclub for clearly breaking the law.
At the end of the day, the discussion of this issue has been riddled with distortions, which have made it difficult for some to see the issues clearly. Akon has been vilified because of his race, black skin and clearly stated Senegalese roots, as a sex-crazed fiend that took advantage of a young girl and cajoled her into committing lewd acts. The girl has been seen as innocent because of her age, her colour and her look that for some may not fit their idea of a ‘dancehall queen’, regardless of her own statements where she admitted her culpability and stated unequivocally that she got carried away and went voluntarily and now sees it as a mistake. In addition, as I previously stated, some commentary has been from the perspective of those who find that she was acting out of character as the daughter of a preacher. Some commentary has also been from the perspective of those who find that any sexual dancing is lewd anyway and should be frowned upon. While the dancing might not have been to the taste of some, that is really their affair and until people deal with their own sexual hang-ups they really cannot effectively judge another’s sexual expression. Issues of racism, colourism and sexuality rear their heads all the time in a variety of discussions because these issues are so fundamental and have remained unreasoned in the public space for too long.
Let us not continue to be hypocrites and see this issue for what it is.
Some images were reproduced from:
http://img141.imageshack.us/my.php?image=akonconcert046km0eo1.jpg
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/1566/akonconcert047in0.jpg
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9558/akonconcert048xt8.jpg
http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/8361/akonconcert055kc1.jpg
NEWS UPDATE: May 07, 2007
Police investigators have closed the books on investigations into the Danah Alleyne/Akon raunchy dancing incident at Zen nightclub.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Winston Cooper, the investigations have reached a stalemate as witnesses aren’t coming forward to support the police.
It’s been three weeks since police officers launched an investigation into the lewd dancing incident involving the fifteen year old pastor’s daughter, Danah Alleyne, and the hip-hop singer, Akon at Zen nightclub. A video clip of the act was posted on the internet and this sparked a national debate about such conduct and who is to blame.
UPDATE: June 13, 2007
Akon’s I’m Sorry Song
Akon apologized to his fans, the young girl, and Gwen Stefani today for his involvement in the onstage underage girl-humping incident that rocked across the net earlier this month.
UPDATE: July 12, 2007
Danah Alleyne to accept youth award
Danah Alleyne will accept the Youth Motivator Award and $1,000 in prize money from Choc’late Allen at her “100% Crime Free” Committee Youth Awards Ceremony to be held next Tuesday, despite a public outcry on the decision, even from Alleyne’s own brother, Ian.
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog’s URL for this article:
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog/?p=221
Everyone’s talking aabout the dancing. What about what may have happened after with this poor innocent girl, with a large tatoo and a navel ring.
She must have been forced to wear those clothes and certainly it would be interseting to know who payed 450 for her ticket, wonder what she had to for that, judgeing by her actions on stage. It seems she’s certainly knows a thing or two in the bedroom.
The age old excuse!
Oh look a tatoo and a belly piercing!
If she is dressed like a ho treat her as such!
Dancing provacatively is one, fair enough she was up for that but when a man then grabs you dragging you across the floor, thrusting himself at you, with no concern for your safety….then ladies and gentlemen we have a problem!!!
Pastor’s daughter controversy
Prime Minister Patrick Manning is calling on the public to forgive the actions of teenager Danah Alleyne, who has been publicly ridiculed after participating in a raunchy dance with international rapper Akon, on April 12. In fact, the PM, says the owners of Club Zen are responsible for Alleyne’s humiliation and should never have allowed such an incident to occur in the first place. He has vowed to take up personally the issue with them.
Manning: We need to forgive
At the opening of the La Romaine High School yesterday, Manning said: “I have taken very careful notice of this matter and the owner of Zen owes it to the public to take responsibility. I will be interfacing with Zen because that kind of thing should never be allowed to happen in this country.
Probe into Zen following Akon concert
An investigation has been launched into why Danah Alleyne, 15, was allowed entry into the Zen nightclub when the age limit is 18 years and over.
Cops reviewing Akon concert
SENIOR police officers yesterday revealed they are currently reviewing the events which unfolded during the Akon Concert in which the singer was caught on tape performing a sexually suggestive dance.
Two words…. Hypocrisy….. and…… Double-standard……
Too much explainations to get into….. but basically………. ALL of the points you have all raised, well most; are things that the top 75 percentile of youth in trinidad and tobago, specifially, are currently doing and HAVE been doing for years and years past…. NOW, two things i’ve notice recurring… its extra wrong and she is automatically worse than everyone else, a “whore”, “sllut”, be cause she got caught BIG time… lol… wow… AND that she is a pastors child… hmmm…. lol….. interesting…
is this then really a discussion of the morailty and rightness or wrongness? OR is it just a self-satisfying activity for one to quel their need to play scapegoat? or create a martyr?
I know this it not a serious group… and i catch REAL kix too… i am not going to lie… BUT yet, sumwhere.. i doh know eh.. it CUD jus be me…. but SUMWHERE it seems as tho it move form light humour to serious attack and judging…. adn not jus playful banter…. and ummm…. not all comments i dare u, not all at all, but there have been many ‘out of the way’ and disrespectful comments too… LOL…. and it’s rather ironic, that MANY people here complainin about indecency and disrespect and lewd behaviour and behaviour becomming of a stree person or whorish person… LOL… yet in ALMOST ALL of the posts, there is use of flagrant obscenities and profane language… LOL…. i mean it is no wonder that such things are occuring if it has readched a point in society where obscene language and behaviour becomes teh ‘accepted norm’….. i seem to rememebr a time where cursing was a rarity and one recieved stern punishment and chastisement for such ludicrous behaviour….. but then, is that the norm? Is this the scoety that is crucifying two fallen human beings? BOTH akon AND Ms. Alleyne…. just as we all have fallen short of glory? They are both in need of true help… not judging and criticising…. if one wants to change/make sumthin better… isntead of SAYING wat to do… jus DO it… HELP!!! or is it that its just much more aesthetically appealing to find oneself in a never ending loop of conflict juxtaposing an answer but in fact just self-aggragating one’s ego self….
once again…. those two terms…
Hypocrisy… and…. Double-standards….. the trini-dream…. or at least that is what i am finding myself having to fight believing….
with all the education that we claim to obtain… and the betterment of ourselves… has society really improved? so then while we complain adn point fingers and attack… WHAT exactly really is the real problem? woudlnt focusing on that and dealing with it to actualy create/prevent atmospheres be move productive? an enigma indeed….
The author of this blog has emphasized very heavily on the race issue, that I think is irrelevant in this story.
The fact of the matter is (not taking into consideration that the lady in question was under the admittance age at Zen), Akon did his act in a very distasteful manner and I doubt he would have gotten away with that in the US for example.
I’m almost certain that that ladies wanting that trip to Africa didn’t foresee that kind of dance competition,.
What:A Club Dance
Who: A teenager and A Hip Hop Star
Where:Trendy Club in Trinidad W.I.
When:Thursday 19th 2007
Why:Beauty met the Beast
How: All involved failed. Failed to protect. Failed to secure. Failed to take care of the young ones at the concert.
How do we fix it? Do not fuel the matter with more statements. Implimnet the laws we already have in exsistance. Knowing that our young ones can get carried away with star power. I.D. other than a removable tatoo and a clip on belly chain should have been required prior to having the girl on stage to dance. If no I.D. available have a consent form on hand to be sighed.
As this was a concert, the adult that was with the teenagers should not have allowed the action. As things move quite fast in these instances and becomes acceptable for the moment making a clear decision is slow and difficult.
I don’t think Akon is to blame. Some are saying that she is young and was taken advantage of, I think not, in the pictures you can clearly see she has her hand around his back , she encouraged it, she liked it, she is having fun.
I was thinking, what about if this was not leaked to the media, would her parents really know, should I say what their daughter is?
This child like partying, dressing way too sexy, she is a liar, I mean this all sounds mean, but its all facts.
Why don’t she come foward and give a statement,again,to the public, and just be truthful and say, look, I was enjoying myself, I like it.
Can you imagine this child is having the prime minister of her country talking about this. People are giving to much power to her.
Now she wants to change her ways, after the fact. Its to late now.
Why should anyone feel so sorry for her? At that very moment when she was on top of Akon dancing, was people in the club feeling sorry, or even know her age? She led everyone in the club beleive she is over 18yrs and she was proud of it, she got away with it. UNTIL.
In defence to Akon, he was just entertaining, getting the croud going.
In every public fete in trinidad there is always vulgar dancing, for carnival, chutney fetes, I mean just look at those dance groups, they dress sexy and raise their legs and wine rude, and that is entertaining. Why is Akon and different. Girl, I think it was meant to happen to you because now trinidad can really take a look at themselves and see what they really are.
I still can’t over the fact, that this young girl have the prime minister of her country talking about her.
It’s disgusting to hear people blaming Akon and the owner of Zen for the whorish behaviour of this mature 15 year old. The responsibility starts with this so-called pastor dad of her.He’s supposed to be instructing people in righteousness and holiness and here it is his daughter is dressing and acting like a prostitute. She knew what she was doing.To pastor I say “For if a man know not how to rule his own huose, how shall he take care of the church of God?”-(1Tim.2:5).I am appalled to hear her say after the mark buss “I’ll be dancing for the Lord now.” The only way to truly dance for the Lord is to “Repent (and be converted ), and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of her sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”(Sure she can be forgiven, but you must come God’s way with true repentance!
Let us not be so blind,the problem here is the authorities and the law of the land.From the pieces I’ve read there is noi way that Akron did anything wrong,Denah should not be there …go after the owner of Zen
i like realist…. he make sense, both should be blamed.
in the pictures she looks like she was in control, but in the videos!! damn!! it shows otherwise.
anyway i see and hear people bringing down the pastor, yes he was trusting and her daughter abused his trust…
a matter of fact he was (sorry to say) STUIPID
anyway as i was saying, you cant blame a parent all the time, for a parent can teach a child, but it is up to the child to follow.
i too am a pastor daughter and i had played the FOOL!!
i aint go lie, but it is not the fault of parents, because they thought me the right thing and i choose to the do the wrong. but i have changed, thanks be to God.
in the B-asic I-nstructions B-efore L-eaving E-arth (bible) it was said we shall all be held accountablefor what we have done and the only recommendations i have is repent, and the people of our nation need to pray… and pray alot.
Kobo wrote
Akon could be charged with lewd behaviour in public and assault. He may get off the lewd behaviour if we use carnival as an example. However, there is defiantly a case for assault. Unlike carnival and our soca artist asking people to dance on stage, they go not physically hold the dancer in position. The dance can stop “wining” and any point in time. Once he grabbed her, physically, he has now prevented her from escaping and she is no longer a volunteer in the situation. There is a line, and Akon crossed it.
You need to seriously consider checking out your facts before you begin postulating like a Lawyer. The last time I checked, under the British Commonwealth Legal System an assault is an attempt or offer by force or violence to do bodily injury to a person. Nothing that Akron did even remotely falls within the parameters of this definition.
What you are attempting to do with your mumbo jumbo about the situation changing while he was holding her, is to associate clauses that illuminates how the consent factor in a case of rape operates, with an unfortunate situation involving the indescretion of a minor. In so doing it becomes quite clear that you are more obsessed with deomonizing Akon than you are with defending the honour of the young woman in question. Give it up. You will have to satiate your obvious craving for black male demonization at some other time, in some other place. Your slip is patently visible to the spectators.
I don’t understand. What is all the drama about? This coming from a country that promotes the most lude, vulgar, indecent and promiscuous act under the guise of Csrnival, its so called culture. The problem does not lie in the people who participated in this act, the place or the parents. It lies in a hypocritcal society where the government and the nation condones acts of sexualism during the Carnival season and then in Aprill, is condemning the very same actions. Sexual behaviour is sexual behaviour, irrespective of where it is conducted and with whom. In public, it is always indecent and improper but this is what your society loves. It feeds on such vulgar acts. So what is the problem? Trinidad has its own kind of morality and this is simply an expression of a messed up and corrupt place where all virtue and values have been long abandoned. What a hypocritcal set of people your are!
that young lady is accustomed to behaving like that. her pastor father is preaching to everyone else on morals, ethics and the ways of the lord…ok that’s fine but he needs to start at home. the girl is misguided and has alot of time on her hands. even if he pays special attention to her, that would bring more of a thrill for her to sneak around and do whatever else ahe does. it’s exciting. instead of trying to defend her admit that she needs help as it would seem that her actions are a cry for such. her punishment should be for her to face the public on her own because she was grinding on Akon by herself. her father shouldn’t cover for her. (to save his rep of course) sure this girl has been to other places that do not amount to “superstar” Akon at any given time. who would want to miss interacting with someone of his stature?! rhetorical question! Remember she is a young teen! Remember how some girls used to get on for the Backstreet boys and N’sync?! Akon is trini style for that and she got carried away. i don’t believe that the day before she knew that she would be on the stage with Akon, grinding up a storm and looking like a “garden tool” if you catch my drift. she is very beautiful i must admit but beauty is not only on the outside. it is what you have on the inside and how you carry about with what you were given on the outside. she may be a pleasant person who looks good but acts like someone with no sence of pride who was fished out of a sewer. i hope it all blows over and she learnt the right type of lesson. The lord see and knows all that we do. he’ll leave us and let us play ourselves and give us enough time to change but if you take that for granted then you must accept the consequences. she of all others supposed to know that FIRSTHAND
Minister is right if I were her parents she will get a cutass. She encourage it. What 14 year old would be going to Zen and wearing that kind of revealing clothes. She in that sex thing a long time. Pastor you need to pray for her. Parents need to deal with that in a serious manner.
i was quite suprised to see that someone actually mentioned race with this issue. As far as I see it, Akon’s ethnicity had absolutely nothing to do with the incident. This is the first time that i’ve noticed it even mentioned. Secondly, those of you all who believe that ‘Akon’ has taken the brunt of the blame are sorely mistaken. I’ve actually been reading many of the comments and forums online concerning this, and have actually almost felt sorry for Dana with some of the things that were said about her. Believe me, many Trinbagonians are VERY far from believing she is an innocent in this.
Danah’s Conduct at Zen: What’s the Big Deal?
When this issue first surfaced on the internet and local radio talk shows, before Trinicenter’s article “Akon Did Not Abuse Girl At Zen”, many people were making very racist comments against Akon. Over time, following the exposure of the racism, more photos and other information surrounding this incident, many have shifted blame to club Zen for breaching the law with regards to minors in such places. Many more have shifted the blame to Danah and are being extreme in their condemnation.
If people are going on about the age of the girl, then fine. There is a law addressing minors in clubs that was breached there. But if you remove the age of the girl from the equation, then Minister Hinds and several other people have expanded what “lewd dancing” is as an illegal act.
Some people on talk shows are attaching this issue to the controversy over the ‘Manzanilla Beach After Carnival Cool Down’ which involved ladies actually showing their private parts on stage and not just dancing raunchy. As I stated yesterday, if we are going down the road of charging people for raunchy dancing outside of stripping for cash (although I disagree with the law there) then the government is definitely talking about regulating regular dancing at Carnival time.
The obvious hypocrisies over this issue have been exposed. There are acts with males standing on their heads on stage and females gyrating on them; there are acts with women with their hands on the ground and butts in the air and some guys gyrating on them. There are people who regularly go on the ground and gyrate on each other during Carnival fetes.
I have even seen these behaviours in the local Country Club among many other ‘prestigious’ places. Generally speaking, when these incidents are reported in the papers, church people make noise and there is much talk about it, but the law generally seems to be clear on what they consider illegal.
If people are just being shown that one small clip aired by TV6 of the girl and Akon at Zen, it does not convey what transpired before and after that one clip. It paints a distorted picture. Before that clip, there is the girl among others wining, ‘Dutty Wining’ etc. on their own for the audience. Then there are images of the girl pulling the artist closer to her several times, actually holding his belt at one time and pulling him in.
This is all common in club shows and even Carnival fetes and nothing is wrong with that in my view, except if one is deliberately breaking the law with a minor. I will add in this particular show at Zen, there was no evidence that the star or others were paying the girl to strip or participate unwillingly in the dance. The girl herself said she just got carried away. So this incident cannot be equated with the stripping incident at Manzanilla Beach.
Also, I feel people are making too much of the girl’s performance as if the girl did something so wrong and is in need of salvation as a result of that dance performance. The behaviour of that girl is typical of teens that have the resources to indulge. Many buy into the “Girls Gone Wild” type of conduct.
If the girl felt that how people are reacting to her performance is fair and she would reconsider her actions in the future, then fine. But some of the comments actually speak about the repressed sexuality of the commentators. They make a big deal at the sight of people gyrating as if there is something wrong with that.
This country was Christianized and certain immature acts, curious behaviours and even harmless normal behaviours have been criminalized as a result.
There also seems to be some special relationship between this government and Zen’s owner, Johnny Soong. Not that something is wrong with that per se, but there seems to be an effort to play down the only aspect of that incident that was a clear breach of the law – the age of the girl in the club.
Mr. Hinds accused Akon of possibly committing, “…a criminal offence of lewd dancing in public”, which is spurious at best, but called on Zen to more or less do better age checks in the future.
Now the Prime Minister, Patrick Manning, got involved and is calling on the public to forgive the actions of teenager Danah Alleyne. He also said: “I have taken very careful notice of this matter and the owner of Zen owes it to the public to take responsibility. I will be interfacing with Zen because that kind of thing should never be allowed to happen in this country.” His statement about interfacing with Zen is even stranger. Why is he going to meet with the owner of Zen? I did not know that Zen was such an essential service that when they are clearly in breach of the law, the Prime Minister has to talk to them about possibly bucking up. This new aspect has added a strange dimension to this debate.
Man i was so embarrased when i look at those photos especially the video, she was like a rag doll on the floor i guess she thought that was fame for her, but i strongly blame the parents what a 14/15 year girl doin with her belly ring an a tattoo, thats says alot she’s too hurry to grow up now that she gettin a grown up treatment from the public, she feelin bad what alot a women dont realise there is a very thin line between sexy an sluty an with these photos it sure says alot about what type of person she is, i saw some pictures with her boods out he top, which decent chic thats well brought up will have herself like that…well all know the kind that wants there body expose, i dont blame Akon, it she who act with out self respect, may be she should spend more time in the church an learn something i feel embarrass for her family… an honestly i dont think she sorry, she jus sorry she get catch an now it all over the place so people can see her for what she really is..
Let us get to the point…the problem …authority and the law of the land.Dont put any blame on Akon he did nothing wrong.Why was Danah there and dressed the way she was?So what about the dancing?I guess some of you folks have forgotten about carnival.The court should be going after the owner of Zen and I think Danah got what she deserve…oh yeah she got the spotlight but not the way she expected it
How quickly people forget the original views about the incident at Zen. People had blamed Akon for the entire situation and were making very racist remarks about him saying that he should return to the jungle in Senegal or Africa and many other nasty comments. They also suggested that he had “molested” a fourteen year old girl on stage which was another attempt to demonize Akon. I think that the author was right that racism and colourism had a lot to do with those demeaning comments and attitudes towards the Hip/hop artiste. The original article on this site was the first to put the record straight about that and had postulated other sensible views about the Danah/Akon affair.
I think that it is the general view in Trinidad and Tobago now, that Akon cannot be held responsible for dancing in a sexual manner with a legally deemed minor when there was no way that he could have known that Danah was under the legal age to enter the club. The owner of club Zen, Johnny Soong, would have to assume full responsibility for allowing some underage people admittance into his club. It is not the first time that people underage have been allowed in his club and colourism and race have a lot to do with this. Once these girls fit the ‘look’: usually slim, light-skinned, White or mixed race, they are allowed in, even without ID’s.
That being said, and notwithstanding the whole legal argument (which I believe is ludicrous and contradictory) I do not believe that there is anything wrong with a male or female her age dancing the way she did. Also, people have to be really naive to believe that she was the first youth to dance in the manner that she did. Many youths in school parties, house parties, clubs and other places dance just as ‘suggestively‘. These types of suggestive dances, as several posters pointed out are evident, especially during Carnival with youths even younger than she is. So should ‘wining’ and other similar dances be banned? Should there be an age limit to ‘wining’? Or should there be a kind of ‘wining’ that is acceptable and another outlawed? The answer to all three questions is “no”. People need to grow up learn about sex and their own bodies.
I understand the position that some Christians and other religions would take on this issue although I personally know many who don’t have a problem with it or at least do not practice what they preach. That hypocrisy has to be dealt with by them or if they disagree with that aspect of their religion, they should address that.
I read Heru’s post and it inspired me to look up the laws of Trinidad and Tobago. I agree with the point that if a child can be married (Muslim religion) and have sex at the age of 12, then that throws away the argument that Danah, two to three years older than the legal age for Muslims to get married, is too immature to simulate sexual behavior.
People criticize Danah, not only for her dancing at Zen but for other pictures of her online. Although these pictures dispel the notion that she is ‘innocent’, they were not in the realm of pornography and is what many teenagers her age do: pose in front of the mirror or camera mimicking what they see on television or elsewhere, what they believe to be sexy. There is nothing wrong with that at all.
Who is to say that the law is correct as it relates to sex and sexual suggestiveness. From my reading of it, there are way too many ambiguities there. Also, what is morally wrong with teenagers experimenting with sex? Sex is a natural part of our existence and many teenagers are sexually mature and do have sex or engage in other types of bonding with their peers. I believe that people are too dishonest when it comes to sex and many of them forget the feelings and urges that they had had during their teenage years.
People should also understand that although her father is a pastor and has views of his own, she may still be formulating her own views and may downright disagree with him on many issues. Which ever way she chooses, this does not mean that she is a bad person or that she should be criticized or judged just because of the occupation of her father.
Although people may object to Danah’s behaviour because of their own religious persuasions or their choice of lifestyles, they are yet to make a plausible argument of Danah’s conduct being wrong. Danah’s actions do reflect some delinquency but her suggestive dancing was not wrong.
Danah use her maturity to get herself into Zen because she knew that the clothes she wore and the way she act no one would of thought that she was just 15 years old. We cannot blame Akon because he’s just an entertainer making his way. Danah on the other hand, showed the people that she had no respect for herself and just how low she think’s. Any decent young lady with pride will never disgrace herself like that and it leaves you to wonder what she will be like at the age of 20.
Her parents must have known about her belly piercing and tatoos, therefore she is her own woman, if at 15 you could have these things then you have alraedy chosen your outlook on living. The big issue here is that she got caught, for those that go to Zen it is not un common to see many very young kiddies in the line, especialy well to do ones and those from woodbrook, why are we lying to the rest of the world this is a normal night out in Trinidad. She just got caught and Daddy’s pastor ego got burnt…a lesson to all practice what yuh preach. Daddy was too busy on the pulpit to have time to check on his daughter, normal for most pastors….
you can not blame Akon. i think we should send all 13-16 year olds to ZEN! so they can tarnish their name and not want anything else to do with the ‘hiphop and rap thing’ anymore. my mother would have man-handled me if i did that at 14. lol it’s so funny, things happen for a reason, to bring it out in the open to show parents what our children are doing behind their backs when they ‘sleep over’ at a friend’s house. i do not blame Denna; this is the lackadaisical system she was brought up in, (next time think 1st sweety) peer-pressure may have been a facture.
I do not blame Akon (the Konvict music founder), if she was there she’s of age right? wrong, he is not aware of the system we use here in Sweet Trinidad…
I surely blame her parents, it what they are there for. to blame for their childrens mistake. shame on you PASTOR!
he did not abuse her look at how she was dressed i would think that she is 19yrs old, plus she was enjoying her self, so pastor face the facts your daughter loose its your job to tame her.
MAybe this will be a wake up call to all the clubs in Trinidad that allow children enter. That girl should be ashamed of herself! her parents should be ashamed of themselves! How can you allow your fourteen year old child to buy a top like that let alone where it! Perhaps she should have gone completely nude but i doubt she would have minded much. the other pics i say of herr on the net are equally revealing and i doubt she is a 1st time offender!
Because this did’nt take place on Jouvert morning, or they were’nt covered in mud wearing far less than what Dana was wearing, They want to charge AKON, well we should be arresting people by the bus load on jouvert morning where far worse “dancing” have been seen on the streets. Poor Akon he must have seen pics of our culture all over the internet. How come no issue was singled out when the spread of “Gyul Farm” was published in the newspapers to which I understand Dana was also in attendance. The girl accustomed to fete and she just happen to get catch because she was BOLD.
I do not have access to internet postings of the young lady, but in continuing to ponder on this, even after my own three comments and 86 othrs, I am wondering if every act of this woman-child was deliberate,designed to embarass her parent? Designed to seek attention due to a sense of being neglected. Today’s children who have many things that money can buyare often starved for attention. Surely she would have known that an international artist’s shows are all videotaped? I have seen many rebellious American teenagers doing exactly the opposite of what their parents wanted and valued, and enjoying the havoc they were wreaking on the parents’ psyches. Then they become tear-filled and repentant, until the next episode. Some children resent the power their parents have over them. She may fall into this category. In that case, psychological counselling may be needed.Continued condemnation would only feed her distorted ego.
I think that the club should be responsible for that not akon. Could somebody tell me what de hell dat young girl doing in dat club where she not suppose to be. Watever your name is you need bootcamp.
for a pastors’ daughter its really ashame to see his daughter behaving in such a manner and not to forget the tattoo in her back.what kind of parents do not know the whereabouts about their children?no one is to be blamed except danah. she is a big girl with a lot more sense so don’t blame zen nor akon.she flaunted her body on her own will and wish no one forced her.
Danah is no little innocent girl. she is a very big hussy. Her daddy wants to lead his congregation and it’s obvious he cannot control his 15 year old daughter. She is not sorr for what she did. she is sorry she got caught.
I agree with the article’s heading: Akon DID NOT abuse this girl. If you go into a club for an international artiste’s performance, then proceed to go onstage in a “winin’ competition”, then you must know what you’re doing. The young lady was even dressed for the part!
There is, also, the issue of her age, but as I intimated earlier, she must’ve had some idea of what was in store. Her attire also suggested that she “knew” the party scene, despite her being a pastor’s daughter.
I must say, however, that I was disgusted when I first saw the video. My first reaction was “What the hell?!” I was ready to condemn Akon, until I realised there was no resistance on the part of the female.
I do think, too, that the reason for a lot of the “hub bub” is the fact that the girl is of Indian ancestry. If she had been Black, the reaction would’ve been different, I’m sure.