Jamaica’s Consulate General in Miami, in conjunction with International Celebration of Reggae Music (ICOR) Music Festival, and Reggae Global Entertainment will host the first annual REGGAE STRONG CELEBRATION, South Florida, in celebration of Jamaica’s Reggae Month.
The free virtual event takes place on Sunday, February 28, 2021, from 5 pm to 7 pm, and will feature performances by South Florida’s top reggae performers.
Some of the popular acts confirmed to perform are Pluto Shervington, Ed Robinson, Wayne Armond of Chalice Band, Visions Band, Roze Hytz, the Tennors, Sons of Mystro, international musical performer, Michael Harris, and tenor, Steve Higgins to name a few.
Jamaica’s Consul General for Southern USA, Oliver Mair will award three South Florida stalwarts of music and performing arts, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the industry. They are Pluto Shervington, Paul Douglas and Desmond ‘Desi’ Gaynor.
Mair expressed that he was proud to add the Celebration to Jamaica’s annual Reggae Month calendar, as it highlights the strength of the music in the Diaspora.
“Reggae is strong; and our culture is strong because this music is part of or healing that keeps us strong during these tough times”, he said.
In launching the annual celebration, part of the Consulate’s mission is to show their support for the reggae music fraternity. In this regard, a scholarship will be established at the Reggae Studies Unit (RSU) of the Institute of Caribbean Studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.
This Unit was created based on recognition of the influence of the genre on Jamaican and world cultures. The scholarship is supported by Louise Bennett Coverley (LBC) Heritage Council in South Florida.
Sponsors to the celebration so far, include the CaribShopper, Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Donna’s Caribbean Restaurants, Grace Kennedy Money Services/Western Union (GKMS/WU), Law Office of Dahlia Walker Huntington, Ray Forest Insurance, Jerome Schechter, P.A., and DMR Media.
