Reggae Month 2023

The Jamaican government officially declared February as reggae month in 2008. February is also Black History Month and both Bob Marley and Dennis Brown are born in February. Reggae Month itself is organised by JaRIA, the Jamaican Recording Industry Organisation, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

Kingston, 26 January 2023 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says Reggae Month 2023 will have live events across the country for the entire month of February.

“It will be one month of entertainment, constantly, every day,” said Minister Grange.

Among the activities are tributes to Dennis Brown (on February 1); Bob Marley (on February 6); the weekly JARIA Wednesdays; the Children of the Icons and Emerging Artistes series; as well as the Reggae University Series.

“And it’s not just entertainment, but it’s also educational because we’re going to be having symposia. We’re going to be doing several interviews so that the public will have a better understanding of our personalities and their lives. We will have documentaries… and we will have an exhibition of dance hall posters over the years. We will also host tributes to some of our greats who have passed on, and we will have the Reggae Golden Awards. We will be awarding a number of our artistes who have contributed to Brand Jamaica and made the music what it is.”

The activities will launch with a church service this Sunday, January 29 at Fellowship Tabernacle, Fairfield Avenue in Kingston.

“We will have our praise and worship service at Fellowship Tabernacle and I’m inviting everyone to attend. It’s really going to be an opportunity for us to give thanks to God and to also pray for continued health and strength and success in the sector.”

All systems go for Reggae Month Echoes of Sound System clash

Kingston, 8 February 2022 – Reggae Month Echoes of Sound System clash blasts off with a not-to-be-missed Preliminary Round from Wednesday, February 9 to Saturday, February 12. 

The action starts at 9:00pm each evening on Reggae Month TV which is streamed on various online platforms, including the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s YouTube and Facebook pages and the Facebook pages of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and Minister Olivia Grange. The Series will also air on PBCJ each night at the same time.

Eight Sound Systems square off
Eight sound systems, including Ghetto Star, JamRock, Kush Int’l, King Rhino, Ruff Cutt, Nexxt Level, Yumi Hi-Power and Twin Star eagerly responded to social media and direct call-for-entries to battle for the coveted title of Reggae Month 2022 Champion Sound. The organisers then drew lots to determine the four clashes in the Preliminary Round.

They are as follows:
Nexxt Level vs Yumi Hi-Power
King Rhino vs Ruff Cutt; 
Ghetto Star vs JamRock 
Twin Star vs Kush Int’l

All the selectors are pumped up, super charged and ready to rumble, but at the end of the Preliminary Round, the number will be cut in half and only four sounds will be left standing. These four winning sounds will then move on to the Semi Final round and then the top two sounds will square off for bragging rights, the Reggae Month 2022 Champion Sound title, and prizes.

The winning sound will receive J$200,000; second prize J$100,000 and third prize J$50,000.

The official judging panel comprises Admiral Bailey, Skatta Burrell, Jack Scorpio and Rory (from Stone Love).

Reggae Month activities will engage audiences in the virtual space, with the month-long celebration being held under the theme ‘Come Ketch de Riddim’. Like last year’s celebration, it is expected to draw thousands of patrons to Jamaica from locations as far as Europe and Asia.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, said that the virtual celebration will enable people to “get together and feel alright, even from a distance”, as Jamaica “builds back stronger to a brighter and dynamic future”.

Reggae Month is staged by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in collaboration with production partners the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA) and funding partners including the CHASE Fund, the Tourism Enhancement Fund, the Jamaica Tourist Board and J Wray & Nephew.

Download the Reggae Jamaica Mobile App, free of charge from the Google or Apple Store, and get real time information on Reggae Month activities including the links to Reggae Month TV broadcasts.

Wake the town and tell the people… it’s Reggae Month 2022. Come ketch de riddim!