Re-territorialising the city: youth and the productive role of reggae music in Vanuatu
Résumé
In Vanuatu, the popularity of reggae music has been on the rise since the late 1980s. Today, reggae music and culture is ubiquitous. For many young people in Port Vila, Vanuatu's capital city, reggae is a fundamental component of their sense of belonging to the city. Their attraction to reggae music and reggae culture derives from reggae's messages of camaraderie, equality and justice. This paper argues that for many urban youth, playing, consuming and sharing reggae music and culture instrumentalises their urban place-making activities and helps reterritorialise themselves in urban spaces. Drawing on ethnographic research, we demonstrate the extent to which reggae lyrics and messages resonate with youth who feel they are unable to express their social, economic and political discontent through other mediums. Furthermore, we show how for many youth, reggae conveys a sense of hopefulness that emboldens them to build a new life or 'father land' for themselves and their children.