Reggae singer Etana has been named the first official Reggae Month Ambassador as Jamaica prepares to mark the 17th anniversary of the declaration of February as Reggae Month.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, Jan. 21, during the official launch of Reggae Month activities at J. Wray and Nephew Limited’s head office in New Kingston, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.
Culture Minister Olivia Grange said Etana’s appointment reflects the continued emphasis on reggae’s cultural impact and its role in shaping future generations of Jamaican music.
More than 60 events have been registered with the Reggae Month Secretariat for this year’s celebrations, which officially begin on Sunday, Feb. 1, with a church service at Fellowship Tabernacle on Fairfield Avenue in Kingston. The day will also include a tribute to the late Dennis Emmanuel Brown, the Crown Prince of Reggae, at Heroes Park.
Minister Grange also announced that the annual Bob Marley Tribute Concert will be held on Feb. 6 at Emancipation Park, with Stephen Marley making a special appearance. “He will be the featured Marley at the celebration but the concert will [also] bring together overseas acts… . They will be standing alongside our local talent in a powerful reminder that reggae is global but its soul remains Jamaican,” she said.
As Reggae Month continues, Dancehall Week will run from Feb. 22 to March 1, while the next generation of reggae artistes will be highlighted at the Young Reggae Ambassadors showcase in Negril, Westmoreland, on Feb. 24. Minister Grange said initiatives such as Children of the Icon and Young Reggae Ambassadors are critical to ensuring the future of the music.
“As more senior pioneers of Jamaican music pass on, it is important that we promote and highlight the next generation,” Grange said. “We want to ensure that when we leave, we leave the music in good hands.”
Several events are also planned for western Jamaica, including the Waves One Love Jerk Fest and MoBay Reggae Night in St. James.
Minister Grange noted that this year’s celebrations mark several milestones, including eight years since reggae music was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, 10 years since Kingston was designated a UNESCO Creative City, and 17 years since Reggae Month was officially proclaimed.
“This year, we celebrate eight years since our music has been inscribed by UNESCO… so we have a lot to celebrate. Reggae is Jamaica’s heartbeat and an important force in global culture,” she said.
She added that the Month’s observance comes at a challenging time for the country and the wider world, underscoring reggae’s healing power.
“Our reggae music is therapy; we turn to this music in the good and in the bad times. The rhythm, our rhythm, and the lyrics provide relief and inspiration,” Grange said.
The full schedule of Reggae Month activities is available on the Reggae Jamaica App, which can be downloaded free from the App Store and Google Play.
