Reggae Month officially began on Sunday, February 1, with a church service at the Fellowship Tabernacle on Fairfield Avenue, under the theme “Reggae … A Balm in Gilead”. The event highlighted the healing power of reggae music, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, with praise and worship sessions celebrating the genre’s enduring influence.
Delegations also paid tribute to the late Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Emmanuel Brown, at Heroes Park in Kingston, where he is buried. The evening saw a tribute concert at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.
Sunday also marked the start of the Grounation series at the Institute of Jamaica Lecture Theatre and the Essence of Reggae Festival at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in St. Andrew.
Other upcoming Reggae Month highlights include the annual Bob Marley Tribute Concert at Emancipation Park on Marley’s birthday, February 6, featuring a special appearance from his son, Stephen Marley. Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange said, “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.”
The younger generation of reggae musicians will be spotlighted at Young Reggae Ambassadors in Negril, Westmoreland, on February 24. Minister Grange emphasized the importance of promoting the next generation as more senior pioneers of Jamaican music pass on. Other activities in Western Jamaica include the Waves One Love Jerk Fest and MoBay Reggae Night in St. James.
Minister Grange noted the significance of the celebration, saying, “It comes at a time when half our country is rebuilding from the devastating hurricane and when we see so much trouble in the world. In all of this, it falls to our composers, our songwriters, singers, players of instruments, and also the soundman, to use their beautiful and powerful reggae music to bring us all together. Our reggae music is therapy. We turn to this music in the good and in the bad times.”
Dancehall Week, running from February 22 to March 1, will also form a key feature of Reggae Month.
The full schedule of activities is available on the free Reggae Jamaica App, downloadable from the App Store and Google Play Store.
