Reggae, while sometimes used in a broad sense to refer to most types of popular Jamaican dance music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style which usually incorporates some variation of the ‘ONE DROP’ rhythm that evolved out of earlier genres like Ska and Rocksteady. It was first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960’s and made popular by Bob Marley and the Wailers who gain international fame during the 1970’s.

In 2008 Jamaican Government on January 9^th decided that the month of February was to be officially declared as Reggae Month to highlight and celebrate the impact of Reggae musical genre on the country’s social, cultural and economic development. Choosing February seem most appropriate since two of Jamaica’s major music icon celebrates their birthdays in this month. The late Dennis Brown also known as the ‘Crown Prince of Reggae’ has birthday celebration on 1st, and the late Robert Nesta Bob Marley on 6^th February.

Reggae Month is needed not only in Jamaica but throughout the Caribbean diaspora because the trend today seems to be towards the more trivial aspect of the music. Authentic reggae, which is created by a talented group of musicians playing real live instruments’ is slowing being pushed to the back burners in favor of a diluted, hollow, cheap, commercialized form of music which is being feed to the children like fast foods today. Listening to some of the alternatives today it seems that only a toy keyboard is used in the background over which the artist spits out some often-inappropriate words.

The dominant genre of contemporary black music has changed through the years: It went from Jazz to Soul to Funk to Disco and now Hip Hop. With the decline in the quality of black music today, Reggae which has an abundance of top-notch talented musicians should easily be recognized as the pinnacle of contemporary black music. But instead it is now playing ‘second fiddle’ to the stepchild in its father’s house. Yes! The Stepchild who has now introduce obscenity and vulgarity in the home as entertainment in order to hide his/her lack luster talent. If Reggae is not treated in the land of its birth as the crown jewel , then it will not be treated with royalty in a distant land. Jamaica should be mindful of the economic benefits derived from exporting Reggae and take heed of the words of Bob Marley: “In the abundance of water the fool would be thirsty”.

We at CEH will like to salute some of the exceptional talent in reggae today: Chronixx, Protoje, Alborosie, Etana, Estelle, Maxie priest, Mikey Spice, Duanne Stephenson, Ziggy Marley, Damian Marley, Tarrus Riley, Shaggy, Morgan Heritage, Black Uhuru, Terry linen, and Dean Fraiser to name a few.

February is also the month of the Grammys; the nominees for Best Reggae Album were: Black Uhuru, Protoje, Ziggy Marley and Sting &Shaggy with the Grammy going to Sting & Shaggy for their collaborative album 44/876.

Caribbean Entertainment Hub Has made it part of our mission to promote authentic Reggae in all its glorious forms: lovers Rock, Conscious and vintage Reggae on our online radio station. Visit: https://wp.caribbeanentertainmenthub.com/radio for station programming and access to the radio station where you can listen to all of the above artistes.

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