So just why is R. Kelly popular?

The easy answer is: I have absolutely no idea. R Kelly is an American RnB singer who nobody here had ever heard of until one tiny little performance in the world cup in South Africa.

Now, he is the second-most famous person in Africa that nobody had ever heard of until one year ago. Second most only to Michael Jackson. In fact, I think all musicians who are having trouble with their careers or public image should take a hint from R Kelly and do a show in Africa. In a sense, it’s like the slate has been wiped clean and all the wrong that you’ve committed will be ignored (or in this case, applauded). I don’t know what’s changed since I left America, but maybe that being the case Kanye West should consider doing a concert in Cape Town. There is a long line of people who lose favor with the American public over scandals and then become heroes in Africa. OK, I lied. That list is only two people: Michael Jackson and R Kelly.

When I tell the kids that I don’t like RnB music they say I must be crazy because R Kelly sings RnB and as popular as he is surely there isn’t anybody alive who doesn’t like RnB. So then I tell them that I don’t like him based on moral grounds.

For those of you who aren’t sure why R Kelly is somewhat blacklisted in America, let me explain it for you. First, there’s the matter of him marrying a 15 year-old girl. This may not be a huge problem had he not been at the ripe old age of 28. This is the thing that occasionally will garner him respect over here, not admonishment. They say that its not such a bad thing. People here marry at 15 all the time, and girls marry older (and much older) guys often, so I need to be more accepting of their culture. Also, for those of you not familiar with R Kelly, there’s also the matter or him having made some very disturbing child pornography videos (as if child pornography wasn’t bad enough). There’s really no way for me to explain this concept to the kids. In fact, there’s really no way for anybody to explain what he did at all.

Although goodness knows people will try.

As for Michael Jackson, I just have to tell the kids that in fact I am the only person they have ever met that does not adore the gloved one. Them thinking I’m crazy is a small price to pay for being sane.