Reggae Month 2024 will kick off with a tribute to the late reggae musician Dennis Brown, at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, on Thursday, February 1.
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange made the announcement on Sunday.
Also known as the “Crown Prince of Reggae,” Dennis Brown recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock, a subgenre of reggae. Bob Marley cited Brown as his favorite singer. Brown was also an inspiration and influence for many reggae singers from the late 1970s through to the 2000s, including Barrington Levy, Junior Reid, Frankie Paul, Luciano, Bushman, and Richie Stephens.
“We have a plethora of events lined up, including tributes to Reggae icons, symposiums, and a flurry of activities across the entire island, specifically Negril, renowned as the entertainment hub of Jamaica,” Grange said.
The theme for the month’s celebrations is ‘Come ketch di RIDDIM’.
Dancehall Week
The Minister informed that a highlight of the celebrations will be Dancehall Week, endorsed by the Ministry and the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission.
Dancehall Week activities will span from Tuesday, February 13 to Monday, February 19 and will include a Dancehall street parade on February 18, commencing at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, 36 Hope Road, Kingston, and ending at the National Stadium, Arthur Wint Drive, Kingston.
“As we embark on the celebrations, I urge each of you to partake in these events. Show your unwavering support for reggae music and the talented artistes championing our musical narrative,” Grange said.
The Minister also urged Jamaicans to not only appreciate reggae artistes but also “to inspire them to reach even greater heights.”
Other events to take place
Other core events on the calendar include a musical tribute to Reggae Icons, a Reggae Gold Award, Dancehall awards, Young Reggae Ambassadors, Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) Open University symposium, and a Children of the Icons concert.
For further details on events and activities, Minister Grange encouraged Jamaicans to download the Reggae Jamaica mobile app from the Google Play Store.
“The app will be our main vehicle for updating the public about the events. It will provide dates and information on the demography of events and directions from Google Maps,” she added.
