Archives

Recent Entries

Syndicate this site (XML)
Powered by
Movable Type 3.17

« Diverse 'Jazz Great' to miss Rebel Salute | Main | Demarco's "Fallen Soldiers" in the # 1 Spot »

January 10, 2008

Reggae Month to be celebrated with full calendar

By Joseph Cunningham
Photography By: Milton Raynor

bruce_gloding.jpg

The official declaration of February as "Reggae month" in Jamaica was the reason why the customarily tranquil Office of the Prime Minister was a buzz of excitement on Wednesday morning.

olivia_babsy_grange.jpg

The conference which was attended by the Honourable Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, and Olivia Grange, Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, emphasized that Reggae music is the heart-beat of Jamaica.

group.jpg

Preceding the Prime Minister, Olivia Grange said, "I am happy that I was able to convince the Prime Minister into sharing this vision with me. I am proud to say that I have converted him, and he is now a member of the reggae fraternity."

rita_marlye.jpg

Bruce Golding effectively made the announcement Jamaica and Reggae lovers around the world were feverishly anticipating. He revealed that he had advised the Governor-General, Kenneth Hall to prepare and make a proclamation, which would give members of the Reggae industry the authority to begin preparations for February.

carolyn_cooper.jpg

In reiterating on the importance of Reggae the Prime Minister quipped "There are persons around the world who know Marcus Garvey, Norman Manley, Michael Manley, PJ Patterson and others, however, when the word Jamaica is mentioned, it is our Reggae musicians who comes to the mind of persons anywhere in the world."

clifton_dillion.jpg

According to Prime Minister, the Governor-General's proclamation will be made with a few days.

barbara-blake-hanna.jpg

There are a number of activities on stream to celebrate Reggae Month.

Listed below are the major ones.

February 1 – Bob Marley Photographic Exhibition at the Bob Marley Museum.
February 4-6 – Africa Unite – Smile Jamaica Youth Symposium at Liberty Hall
February 5– Annual Bob Marley Lecture at UWI Mona Campus
February 6 – Premier of Africa Unite Documentary film
of Bob Marley 60th anniversary concert in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at Carib Cinema
February 7-9 – African Film Festival at Bob Marley
Museum

lloyd_stanbury.jpg

February 13 – 2nd Annual Irie FM Reggae Music Awards,
live on radio
February 14 – Making of Music Tour – Tuff Gong studios
February 15 – The Bob Marley Creative Expressions Day
February 18-24 – Global Reggae Conference hosted by
the UWI Reggae Studies Unit
February 20 – Gala opening of Reggae Film Festival
February 21– Reggae Film Festival continues
February 21 – Reggae Academy Awards Opening night reception and showcase.

howard_mcintosh.jpg

February 22
• Reggae Film Festival special screening at UWI
• Reggae Academy Awards panels/conferences
• Reggae Academy artistes showcase
• Final night Reggae Film Festival and Awards at Courtleigh auditorium

media.jpg

February 23 – Reggae Academy Awards
February 23 – Africa Unite – Smile Jamaica Concert
February 24 – Reggae Academy Awards
February 29 – Presentation of Irie FM Awards
February 29 – Reggae Film Festival at Island Village in Ocho Rios.

Posted by yardFlex at January 10, 2008 09:26 AM

Comments

Posted by: francesca on January 10, 2008 10:37 AM

god bless ur work.......

Posted by: Wade Cameron on January 10, 2008 11:53 AM

How comes dem cyaa mek it fi January. Febuary a too short of month fi declare reggae month. Dem should reevaluate dat. Reggae music need fi obererve by di massive an a full month is better suited fi dat.

Posted by: Whis-Keezy on January 10, 2008 01:30 PM

Finally the Government stand up and notice that the world knows Jamaica because of Reggae Music and not only because of the beaches. Ask anyone about Jamaica and the first thing that comes to mind is Bob Marley (and Ganja) so mi respect the move Bruce
"Rasta is the future"

Posted by: imani on January 10, 2008 02:13 PM

Government embracing reggae... not really just another publicity stunt...

If they really embraced Reggae and Bob Marley they would not treat Artists like common thieves... locking them up for using profane language? Still using laws imposed by the British Slavers to control the Africans ... If they embrace Reggae... they need to free Reggaes muse... the herb...

The JLP looks like they are trying to mimick Michael Manley but at least he was sincere...

Posted by: Empress on January 10, 2008 02:41 PM

I like this new move, i hope that the month slated for these activities will be sucessful and at least our young people can know the true meaning of reggae and have a knowledge of where it all started, Bob would really appreciate it. Why is some part of these activities not being kept at Emancipation Park??

Posted by: barbara smith on January 10, 2008 05:05 PM

hope them member the first lady of dance hall.

Posted by: Joi on January 10, 2008 05:13 PM

FINALLY, JAMAICA IS FINALLY TAKING CHARGE OF IT'S CREATION. PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD MAKE ALOT OF MONEY FROM REGGAE now it's time to take it home so jamaica can reap the rewards. i HOPE THEY include all the other music form of jamaica like the folk music form and mento, ska, dub, and so on because people are trying to use all of jamaica music to make a quick buck. so in order to take control of reggae the government needs to take control of all of jamaica music form. Lata!!!!!!

Posted by: LALA on January 11, 2008 12:07 PM

I think the Prime Minister and all who contributed to this well needed recognised month ought to be commended. Big Up!!!!

Posted by: Dr. Gosnell L. Yorke on February 10, 2008 04:08 PM

Sorry for a somewhat lengthy piece but I am constrained to say the following: I was born in St.Kitts-Nevis, now teach at Northern Caribbean University here in Mandeville, and am married to a lovely Jamaican lady from Bob Marley's Parish of St.Ann.
I have lived and worked for fifteen and a half years (15 1/2)in Africa (1991-2007--in East Africa [Kenya--1991-1996]and South Africa [1996-2007]).

And here is the punchline: while in the Motherland,I was able to witness personally the pan-African reggae reach of "ambassador Bob"--be it in French-, English or even Portuguese-speaking Africa. Of particular interest to me was that during my visit to the twin island nation of Mauritius and Rodrigues in the Indian Ocean, I discovered that the local afro-music of Rodrigues (the smaller of the two islands)was called Sega. A local fan of Bob (and a national musician himself)merged reggae and sega to form what he called "seggae"--now an established local art form on the island! Talk about Bob's influence in far-flung (and hardly heard about) "afro-places"!

Post a comment




Remember Me?