Noted Jamaican musicologist, Dermot Husssey has observed reggae music's global penetration as one of Jamaica's greatest victories. Describing the music's global reach as "globalisation in reverse", he contends that this is a feat that only superpowers like Britain and America have matched.

"The penetration of reggae globally, is one of Jamaica's greatest victories, especially as globalisation is becoming one of today's more controversial topics," Dermot Hussey told the recent Reggae Studies Unit lecture at the Undercroft of the University of the West Indies (UWI).

He said that reggae has accomplished this feat at a time when people are arguing about loss of cultural identity, the terror of westernisation and cultural imperialism. Hussey pointed out that the internet, fax machines, satellites and cable tv, are sweeping away cultural boundaries and spreading new values, norms and culture. So much so, that there is a great fear today. that North American corporate culture, including the music industry is supplanting local knowledge, values and lifestyles.

"But the power of Jamaica's culture, as exemplified by its music and the global appeal of that music, is a feat that only Britain and America have equalled," the veteran broadcaster said.

Poet/historian Louise Bennett, poet/historian once described the movement of Jamaicans to England in the late '50s and '60s as colonisation in reverse, Hussey recalled, noting that "46 years later it is the music that is doing much of the migrating on our behalf".

Placing his argument in an historical perspective, he asserted. "So, globalisation in reverse or reggae, as globalisation in reverse, is to me the continuum of what Louise Bennett was dealing with in that poem."

The erstwhile host of two local radio shows, The Inner Ear, on the now defunct JBC (1980s) and, of more recent vintage, The Global Beat on RJR, further noted that Britain was the first offshore market for Jamaica popular music, and the first international connection that popular Jamaican music made.

"In today's world," insisted Hussey, "music is a key process of globalisation, which is seen in many quarters as a kind of recolonisation parading under the guise of levelling social inequalities, as has been proven with the Jamaican experience.

The programme director for the US-based XM Satellite Radio, drove home his point when he said Britain remained one of the most important centres for Jamaican music, adding that the influence of Jamaican pop on British pop has yet to be fully documented.

"That early breakthrough is an example of how music, our music in particular, globalised Britain and beyond. Today, our popular music style - reggae - has risen to international fame along with all other popular styles: blues, funk, rock and jazz. Advertising agencies come up with reggae jingles - reggae has established its own space. In 1984 it became a Grammy category, while Billboard began publishing a separate reggae chart in 1994."

Continuing his highly engaging lecture, Hussey said, "In Europe reggae continues to grow, particularly in Germany, where we find Europe's biggest reggae star Gentleman, but also bands like Seed, who play to full house whenever they perform. German producers like Pow Pow create their own 'riddims', which find their way into the mainstream of reggae.

"The sound system, another Jamaican innovation, has seen a rebirth in Europe. Italy has many sets and there are now more sound systems on the continent than in London.

"Europe is now the breaking ground for new reggae," Hussey said, adding that the sound systems are keeping the music alive across the continent.

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