Jamaica Salutes Legacy of Icons During ‘Reggae Month’
Jamaica’s reggae icons – living and dead - will be celebrated this month in the Caribbean island.
Olivia Grange, minister of culture,gender,entertainment and sport, last month announced the launch of “Reggae Month”.
According to Grange events will be staged across the island throughout February.
“Reggae turns 50 this year and we will be celebrating ‘Reggae Month’ under the theme ‘Celebrating Reggae's Legacy’," she said.
“While the ‘Reggae Month’ 2019 calendar is packed with independent events endorsed by the government of Jamaica, there are two major events that we will be producing that will honor our reggae greats,” Grange added.
“The Reggae Gold Reception and Awards Ceremony” will honor 50 reggae icons for their work, while the “Dennis Brown Tribute Concert” will display reggae music from those who were an integral part of the music's inception, but also upcoming artistes.
The Dennis Brown Tribute Concert is slated for Feb. 24. Reggae Gold Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 27.
ASSISTANCE
According to Gillian McDaniel, acting principal director for culture in the ministry, February’s line-up also includes events sponsored by the government of Jamaica to honor and assist reggae artistes who are in need of aid.
“There are three particular benefit concerts that we are endorsing and want to bring attention to during the month,” explained McDaniel.
“These are the ‘Rise Up Benefit Concert’, the ‘Junior Byles Benefit Concert’ and ‘Di Real Feluke’ concert series. These three are paid concerts with proceeds going towards supporting artistes that are ailing.
“The ministry has a sponsorship and artiste wellbeing program and we provide facilitation support to this and other events. These three benefit concerts are deliberately being staged during ‘Reggae Month’ to take advantage of the time confluence of other reggae-relatedactivities," McDaniel added.
The “Rise Up Benefit Concert”will be held at Keesing Live in Kingston on Saturday, Feb. 2. The “Junior Byles Benefit Concert” will be held at the Ranny Williams Entertainment complex on Feb. 9. “Di Real Feluke” concert will have two stagings, both in Kingston, one at Jojo's Jerk Pit and the other at 22 Jerk. Dates for these events had not been confirmed up to press time.
The list of “Reggae Month” 2019 can be viewed at www.mcges.gov.jm and at www.reggaemonthja.com.
