Jamaican music group asks Putin to choose peace

Jamaican music group Shubs World Party has joined the chorus of those protesting Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine with the anti-war single, The Putin Song (Give Peace a Chance).

In the lyrics of the song, which was released via the 619 Recording Studio label, the group makes an impassioned plea for Russian leader Vladimir Putin to choose diplomacy instead of a continued full-scale invasion. The song has elements of two classics, Dolly Parton's Jolene and John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Give Peace a Chance.

Manager of Shubs World Party Roger Grant, a Jamaican veteran of the music business, voiced his alarm over what he perceives as the lack of a musical response from the reggae fraternity to the conflict.

"It seems we have gone soft and losing the power reggae is known to exert over world affairs," Grant said. "This song is Shubs World Party's small contribution to voices for freedom, democracy and against tyranny. We have to let Mr Putin know in no uncertain terms that what he is doing is wrong."

More than one million people have fled Ukraine for neighbouring countries, according to the UN, which added that the number could top more than four million. There has been growing condemnation of the attack within the music industry and Spotify said last Wednesday that it had closed its office in Russia indefinitely. Spotify said it was in response to what it described as Moscow's "unprovoked attack on Ukraine".

Shubs World Party, a four-person unit based in Philadelphia in the US, is known for performing various genres.