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The secret world of Mafia music
By Razia Iqbal, Arts Correspondent.
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A new CD, released this week in Britain and other European countries, is being touted as one of the most controversial albums of the year. Il Canto di Malavita -- which means, songs of a life of crime -- is NOT available in Italy, because the producers are nervous of releasing it in its country of origin for fear of provoking an outcry or even of being banned.
The CD documents a secret strand of Italian folk culture: the Calabrian Mafia, in southern Italy, and the songs have never been made public before in this way ,and the very existence of this music has caused a heated debate in Italy.
Mention the words Italian Mafia, and the majority of people will remember the haunting tune and some gory detail from the Godfather films, or more recently, some scene from the gritty television series, The Sopranos. This cultural output has its detractors, but there are those who argue that Hollywood's version is pretty authentic. But it's still fiction. A new CD, called Il Canto di Malavita presents a picture of the real thing. The tunes are for the most part cheery; but gangsta rap has nothing on it for bloodcurdling lyrics. This song talks of slashing a face and watching the person die; of revenge killings and women who fall for men who do such things. It's performed by a ten piece band which is currently touring in Europe, selling out concerts in Amsterdam; the CD has already sold 60,000 copies, which is a lot for what is really minority music.
In Italy, the singers are criticised for being Mafia sympathisers. But the producer of the album, Francesco Sbano, insists that the CD is an important social and historical document. He argues that just because your history is bloody, it doesn't follow that you are a Mafioso. Francesco Sbano also contends that if the songs were released in Italy, they may well be seized upon by the government and banned. This is utterly refuted by Danny Berger, the official adviser to the Minister of culture, Juliano Urbani. For him, it's an issue of freedom of expression. This whole debate begs many questions. Is it possible to say that such lyrics contribute to the glorification of the Mafia.
Manuella Marezza, who writes for a magazine called Narco Mafia, based in Turin, dismisses the idea that the songs are harmless. She thinks many people in Italy would be offended by this music. And that it's not folklore; the lyrics make a contribution to Mafia codes and values. One of the most interesting things about these songs is the contrast between the sound of traditional southern Italian music, with the lyrics, which are difficult and portray a culture steeped in codes of violence.
Goffredo Plastino is a leading music ethnographer, who now works at the University of Newcastle. His view is that a description of violence does not necessarily mean a promotion of violence. The Mafia for him, does not need promotion, because this kind of organisation lives in silence. The power of the Mafia is in some respects embodied in this silence. Yet, this CD appears to have opened the door, just ever so slightly.
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Mafia boss turned informer, Buscetta Tommaso |
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Palermo Mafia bomb explosion |
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