Naked male statue upsets Jamaicans

A sculpture meant to celebrate emancipation has sparked heated arguments in Jamaica's capital Kingston over its explicit portrayal of a naked male slave.

The 11-foot bronze statue, named "Redemption Song" after the song by Jamaica's legendary reggae singer Bob Marley, was placed at the new Emancipation Park on Aug. 1, when Jamaicans celebrate the anniversary of the end of slavery in the former British colony in 1838.

The work shows a naked man and woman, hands by their sides and heads lifted in a prayer of thanks to God that slavery has ended.

However, some Jamaicans have complained about the nudity, and objected to the male statue, saying its penis is too large.

One resident Jenny Francis claimed: "There seems to be an interest by the sculptor to present the penis as the main attraction, when in fact there could have been other things highlighted.

"There should have been some clothes put on, it's not all about nudity," she felt.

The US$800,000 statue was commissioned by the state-run National Housing Trust and created by sculptor Lorna Facey Cooper.

It has attracted thousands of viewers who daily drive past the nude bronze figures or line up to get a closer look, take photographs or shoot videos. Many admire the sculpture.

Defending her work which she says extols emancipation, Cooper said: "My piece is not about ropes, chains or torture. I have gone beyond that. I want healing," she said.

The statue has sparked off heated arguments on radio talk shows and among newspaper columnists and letter writers over whether it is a celebration of the spirit of defiance that broght an end to slavery, or a tasteless affront to the innocence of young children who visit the park.

Mother of two Adrienne Thomas felt there was nothing wrong with the statue and accused fellow Jamaicans of being hypocritical. "Some of us go almost nude when Carnival time comes around. We do so many vulgar things, yet no one says anything about it. Now we are looking at a statue and focusing so much on a penis. It's so sad."

- September 10, 2003